New York judge puts the brakes on hybrid taxi rules
New York City's attempt to mandate an all-hybrid cab fleet have been put on hold thanks to federal judge Paul Crotty. A city taxi regulation that was scheduled to take effect on November 1 would have phased in fuel economy rules for new cabs operated in the city. A group of cab operators that account for about a quarter of the city's more than 13,000 vehicle fleet sued, arguing that the hybrid vehicles available today are not suitable for use as cabs due to their size and durability. The cab operators also argued that only the federal government has the authority to set fuel economy rules.
Crotty ruled that the plaintiffs would likely prevail at full trial on the latter argument and thus blocked implementation of the rule. The argument seems dubious because the city rule does not require that manufacturers meet a certain mileage threshold. Instead it says that the vehicles used for a particular purpose must meet certain requirements. Cabs are already required to meet other standards for size and safety.
The rule did not explicitly state that new taxis had to be hybrids but rather that they must achieve at least 25 mpg this year, rising to 30 mpg next year. Since only hybrid vehicles currently meet the rule, that becomes the de facto standard. In spite of the current arguments against the regulation many cab operators have voluntarily moved to hybrid vehicles and over ten percent of the fleet already consists of Ford Escapes, Toyota Camrys and other hybrid models. Ford, Nissan, Toyota and General Motors all recently committed to providing hybrid vehicles to the taxi fleet.
[Source: New York Times]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
gorr 10:44AM (11/02/2008)
These silly goverments of all sort are ruling cars emissions and they don't listen what manufacturers and me says. Hybrid don't work and this mayor maybe just got it but how much trouble did he make before to these cab drivers??? Maybe he will come-up with other silly impossible demands written in law. Manufacturers have said only hydrogen or natural gas work. Gm larry burn said it and toyota agreed.
http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/08/01/larry-burns-promotes-natural-gas-as-an-alternative/
http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/04/01/larry-burns-says-h2-cars-are-ready-calls-on-government-and-ener/
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Don 2:22PM (11/02/2008)
Hybrids don't work???
Oh my...are you some kind of a brainwashed bible-hugging moron from Alaska? Where have you been the last 5 years?
Hybrid cars are a huge success and there have been no more problems recorded than with traditional cars. Hybrids DO WORK.
For God's sake, stop drinking absinthe and watching fox news all day long.
TrustUs 1:23PM (11/02/2008)
Vancouver's taxis are almost all hybrids. Of course the city is much cleaner, friendlier, livable, and prettier that NY, but still.
If you have the best public transport system in the North America, I guess you can have lots of hybrid taxis, too.
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Geoff de Ruiter 8:36PM (11/02/2008)
I confirm the Vancouver statement and also add that Victoria right near by has ~90 percent hybrids, mainly new prius', camrys, and a few new Nissan sedans. I would even dare to say that Victoria might be the Hybrid Capitol of the world, well at least per capita for taxis'.
state 4:06PM (11/02/2008)
Hybrids work in cities just fine.
Best spot for them is stop and go traffic.
The City of NY is forcing hybrids onto the cab drivers.
I am glad the judge came in and stopped the heavy handed City of NY.
I am, at the same time, sorry to see the lack of hybrids in NYC. But, overall, a delay and some compromise might result in a better solution.
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ANC 6:30PM (11/02/2008)
Take the subway.
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asus 11:57PM (11/02/2008)
Hybrids make total sense in cities, esp with cabs. Its all stop and go driving. Plus, it will save the cab drives money. They (or their companies) will be able to charge the same fare and make more. I smell Ford behind this one... they don't want the bottom to fall out of the market for Crown Vics and Towncars before they have a suitable fuel efficient replacement.
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Chris 10:29AM (2/01/2009)
I don't think you can blame this on on Ford as they are selling a large number of Escape hybrids to the NYC taxis fleets.
"3,000 of the 13,000 NYC yellow taxis are replaced each year. "
"Ford will provide 300 hybrids a month"
That's 3600 Escape hybrids a year, that's between 27%-100% of the replacement fleet depending on how many are replaced that year.
(ref:http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/2008-07-17-hybridi-taxis-new-york_N.htm)
awdriven 10:59AM (11/03/2008)
I just took a trip in a NYC Prius cab last week. There was plenty of back seat room compared to the crown vic. (Surprised). I chatted up the cabby and he says he's seeing 40mpg all day. His crown vic got 10mpg. He's been really happy with the car so far, but only had 16,000 miles on the clock so far. Durability was his biggest concern, but didn't have any reason yet to doubt it.
Durability TBD, but he's saving over $10,000 a year in gas expense.
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Serge 11:12AM (11/03/2008)
It is very dumb and ironic that this widely supported initiative to clean up NYC air, reduce fuel consumption and begin to address and mitigate climate change on local level has been shot down under auspices of "Clean Air" Act and "Energy Policy and Conservation"
Only Fed can mandate fuel efficiency standards? Wrong. CARB in California has the authority. NYC metro area is one of the most densely populated areas in the United States and therefore should have an agency in place to protect interests of all New Yorkers (clean air).
Keep pushing, Bloomberg, we are behind you. Also, please bring back the congestion charge plan.
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Corinne 11:56AM (11/04/2008)
so ridiculous. the negative effects of all the exhaust and carbon emissions from cabs & cars in such a densely populated area as new york are plainly apparent. barring a motion attempting to improve air quality and make the city a greener place is such a poor choice.
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