Taxi Fleet Goes Green (with Yahoo! riding along)
May 22nd, 2007 by Katie GreenI had a recent conversation with a friend this past weekend about the new SUV taxis that were adorned with “Yahoo! Green Taxi”-lit signage. Of course, the conversation continued to assume that NYC taxis started using hybrids and the new signage would tell you which ones made the switch.
Today (literally and figuratively), Mayor Bloomberg put all assumptions to rest:
The mayor announced the new plan this morning on the NBC News program “Today,” saying it would entail gradually phasing out the roughly 1,200 Crown Victoria taxis that make up about 90 percent of the city’s fleet. As the old Crown Victorias are retired, they will be replaced with hybrid vehicles that run on a combination of gasoline and electricity and provide nearly double the fuel efficiency.
Under the new plan, the number of hybrid vehicles in the fleet will grow to 1,000 by 2008, and will increase by 20 percent every year until 2012. The new hybrids will have a fuel efficiency of about 25 miles per gallon, far exceeding that of the current Crown Victorias. According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, Crown Victorias — although roomy — get only 10 to 15 miles per gallon on congested city streets. A cabdriver can pay as much as $100 a day to keep the tank full.
It is definitely good to see, I will admit. The article mentions using Toyota Prius, Toyota Highlander Hybrid and Ford Escape, but I have only seens Fords, so far. I also would like to know how Yahoo! got this sweet marketing deal.
…and when will we see the GPS systems, so my cabbie knows how to get through Brooklyn?!?!
May 22nd, 2007 at 3:31 pm
Horray Mayor Bloomberg! Since New York is a trendsetting city, maybe this will cause a push for hybrids and other energy effcient initiatives across the country. Even though someone once told me, “your tax dollars will be paying for it,” I say it’s money well spent.
May 23rd, 2007 at 10:42 am
Why are you taking cabs? Don’t you like the trains???