All tomorrows taxis: New York fleet will be all hybrid by 2012
It's not like there has been a lack of news about New York's hybrid taxis recently (see links below), but I think we're going to be seeing a lot more of it now: Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced today that all of city's yellow taxi will be switching over to hybrid models within five years. The AP notes that Bloomberg is most concerned with the environmental aspect of the move. "There's an awful lot of taxicabs on the streets of New York City," Bloomberg told the AP. "These cars just sit there in traffic sometimes, belching fumes. This does a lot less. It's a lot better for all of us."
The hybrids should do well in the city. Hundreds of them have been tested over hundreds of thousands of miles over the past year and a half. There are 400 hybrid taxis operating now, and Bloomberg plans for 1,000 by next year and all 13,000 vehicles in the fleet will be hybrids by 2012. CNN says that the city has approved the following hybrids for yellow cab use: Toyota Highlander, Lexus RX 400H, Ford Escape, Saturn VUE Green Line, Toyota Prius, Toyota Camry, Honda Accord and Honda Civic. City spokespeople said using a hybrid should save taxi operators $10,000 a year per vehicle, compared to driving a standard vehicle.
I wonder if there will a tussle with GM over the "Live green, go Yellow" slogan...
Related:
- Hybrid Technologies lithium-battery-powered taxi cruising NYC
- Cleantech Launches Hybrid Taxi Initiative
- The "Greenest City in America" can win a free fleet of hybrid taxis
- Ford Escape hybrid taxis top 175,000 miles
- Yellow cabs turning green at New York Auto Show
- Bloomberg to announce $8 congestion fee for cars entering NYC
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Virginia 1:27PM (5/22/2007)
What about ZAP.... in Santa Rosa California that is selling a 100% electric car Now!!! for the road.
How come only the Big Auto dealers are mentioned?
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jcwinnie 2:36PM (5/22/2007)
Seb, if you believe the "Live Green, Go Yellow" hype, then I have a (historic) bridge I want to sell to you.
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1985 Gripen 5:44PM (5/22/2007)
Can you imagine what the Program Director over at Ford in charge of the Crowne Victoria must be thinking? I'm sure he's getting his resume ready. "Hey guys, how are things on the Crowne Vic Hybrid prototype coming along!?!?" :-P
Well, he's still sittin' pretty with the "Police Interceptor" market at least for the time being. Maybe Tesla will try to go in and grab a piece of that market next. ;-)
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Kent Beuchert 9:46AM (5/23/2007)
Well, politicians are always looking for ways to
appear to be doing something without actually asking their electorate for anything. I notice that Bloomberg made no estimates of the increase in taxi fares this insignificant act of his wil require. I see Bloomberg really knows his technology - he described NYC taxis as "belching noxious fumes." Last time I looked, NYC had emission control program that made sure no vehicles "were belching smoke." I DO know of one thing that is belching smoke - NYC's idiot Mayor.
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Sebastian Blanco 12:51PM (5/23/2007)
@jcwinnie -
All I was saying is that going "yellow" might now have two meanings in the publicity sphere now. No devout following of GM's slogan implied.
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JamesWB 1:12PM (5/23/2007)
@Virginia - Which ZAP car has more than two seats and a range of over 40 miles? Cos I think these things would be pretty essential for a taxi cab don't you?
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