Tech & Biz

NYC's Taxi Fleet Going Hybrid?

by Brian A Kennedy | December 12, 2007 at 07:48 am

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New York's Taxi and Limousine Commission adopted a rule yesterday that requires all cabs bought after Oct. 1, 2008, to get at least 25 miles per gallon -- and all cabs bought after fall 2009 to get 30 mpg. Since cab companies can't afford to replace their cars every year, this means that they'll probably be going hybrid. Soon our streets will be overrun with fleets of yellow Priuses (Prii?) -- all in all a very good thing, although legroom's going to get challenging.

The city’s Taxi and Limousine Commission adopted a rule on Tuesday that will require all cabs purchased after Oct. 1, 2008, to get at least 25 miles per gallon.

Cabs bought after fall 2009 will have to get 30 miles per gallon.

The new rule will mean that taxi fleet owners, who must replace their cabs every three to five years, will probably be forced to buy fuel-efficient hybrids, which run partly on electricity.

In a statement, Matthew Daus, the commission chairman, said the rule “lays the groundwork for the cleanest, greenest large city taxicab fleet in the world.”

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Jordan Yerman

at 08:15 on December 12th, 2007

Yeah, Prii is probably the plural... I took a hybrid cab that had street-glow: is that counterproductive, or just flaunting the capabilities of the hybrid power plant?

dM.nyc

at 08:28 on December 12th, 2007

Well, just because it's a hybrid doesn't mean it has to be cramped. I've seen the new hybrid Altimas and Camrys on the road not to mention the hybrid SUV fleet (though their mileage promises remains a bit questionable). There's no excuse at this point for any passenger cars sold in the US to get less than 25 MPG not to mention 30-35. I welcome this move by the TLC.

Brian A Kennedy

at 08:42 on December 12th, 2007

Yeah, I was being a little flippant about it -- most of the hybrid cabs I've ridden in have been Altimas or SUVs as well. And it's definitely a good move -- it'll save wear and tear on the environment, reduce noise pollution a heck of a lot, etc.