Hybrid hacks are a hit in San Francisco
Creative Commons by Ian Fuller
While the use of hybrids as taxis has met with mixed reviews in New York, they seem to be something of a hit in San Francisco. Its first 15 Ford Escape hybrids have all clocked about 300,000 miles on their odometers which, in the City by the Bay, means they must be retired from service. Introduced in February of 2005, it is estimated the hybrids saved their owners about $9,000 a year (that's $36,000 over their 4 year life!) One of the hybrid's biggest boosters is a driver and former president of the San Francisco Taxicab Commission, Paul Gillespie. He brags on their environmental friendliness by saying (cringe) that they have, "...the carbon footprint of an Ethiopian child".
The Escape hybrids also proved that their green tech is tough. The NiMH battery packs proved capable of far surpassing their 150,000 mile warranty and also showed how well regenerative braking saved on brake pad replacement. Yellow Cab, San Francisco's largest taxi fleet, has almost 100 hybrid hacks and is now waiting on 10 new Ford Fusion hybrids to arrive. They say the latest Ford hybrid will get even better results. Hal Mellegard, general manager of the company, says he is still looking for the perfect cab which he believes would have zero emissions and run on dirt. We humbly suggest the new Tesla Model S sedan charged with electricity from geothermal would pretty much fill that bill.
[Source: Los Angeles Times]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Matt 2:34PM (4/01/2009)
How did they determine it saved 9,000 a year? That's pretty impressive...
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Epyx 3:30PM (4/01/2009)
So the Ford paid for itself in 3 years? That is awesome. Why would any other car be used as a Taxi...ever.
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jharlan 5:21PM (4/01/2009)
You really think cab drivers are going to spring 50K for a Tesla model S? When the exuberant euphoria dissipates, we have to come back to common sense, pleeeease.
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solution 7:17PM (4/01/2009)
Why do they have to use SUVs as taxis?
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Chris M 8:52PM (4/01/2009)
They don't. Just a short drive south of San Francisco is the much larger city of San Jose, and there they have several Prius taxis, as well as a few older Ford Crown Vics running on compressed natural gas.
The first hybrids used as taxis were Prius taxis in Vancouver BC starting back in 2001! Prius taxis have served well in many cities, but apparently the taxi commissions in a few cities insist on oversized vehicles for their taxi fleets. For New York it's a big ego issue, I really don't know why San Francisco doesn't follow the example of its sister city by the bay.
no 4:19AM (4/17/2009)
they need big suvs and cars because the avg americans are too fat to fit in a prius! LOL
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Geoff de Ruiter 12:18AM (4/02/2009)
Victoria BC, just a ferry ride from Vancouver has a fleet average of 90% hybrids, including some of the first generation prii. At night downtown I hear all the time the wiz of the regen braking, it's pretty cool.
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Chris M 1:57AM (4/02/2009)
I know that sound well, I drive a 2003 Prius. Victoria is a lovely city, I visited once years ago, and hope someday to make a return visit.
Geoff 3:10AM (4/02/2009)
Nice! It's the sound of the future. Well if you make a trip here again I'll buy you a drink. I am on facebook if you need to get in touch.
Geoffrey de Ruiter