10,000 "Black Car" Taxis to Go Hybrid in New York City
by Michael Graham Richard, Gatineau, Canada on 03. 3.08
After turning yellow taxis green, New York City is now announcing that it wants to make black cars greener. There are currently about 10,000 of these large sedans (mostly Lincoln Town Cars) that primarily service corporate clients and they emit 272,000 tons of CO2 equivalents annually, not to mention smog-forming emissions. Michael Bloomberg, New York's mayor, wants to cut their greenhouse gas emissions by half and at the same time improve air quality.
Currently, most black cars average 12-15 miles per gallon (15-20 liters/100 km). Under the new Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) regulation, they would need to get 25 mpg (9.4 liter/100 km) in 2009 and 30 mpg (7.8 liter/100 km) in 2010. "Many black cars line up, idling in front of office buildings in Midtown and Lower Manhattan awaiting customers. With hybrid powertrains, the engines will shut down instead. [...] Hybrid cars will save owner-operator drivers upwards of $5,000 per year in gasoline expenses—approximately 50% of their current fuel costs. These savings will allow drivers to cover, in just one year, the additional cost of purchasing a new hybrid car over the currently used Lincoln Town Car."
Also included in the proposed rule change is a requirement for vehicle retirement. The TLC currently does not set a vehicle retirement age for for-hire vehicles like it does for the yellow taxis. There will be a retirement phase-in cycle that will ensure almost all vehicles associated with black car bases are more fuel-efficient by 2013.
The Mayor’s Office of Long-term Planning and Sustainability and the TLC have identified several efficient vehicle models that will have widespread acceptance, including:
- Toyota Camry Hybrid, 33 mpg (city)
- Toyota Highlander Hybrid, 27 mpg (city)
- Nissan Altima Hybrid, 35 mpg (city)
- Mercury Mariner Hybrid FWD, 34 mpg (city)
In addition, other models may include: Lexus Rx400h AWD, Ford Escape Hybrid AWD (we assume that the Escape hybrid FWD is accepted, as it is almost exactly the same as the Mariner hybrid FWD), and Toyota Prius (strange that it isn't in the list above - maybe because of its dimensions).
Or you can always do like Mayor Bloomberg and take the subway...
::Official NYC press release, ::New York’s 10,000 Black Cars to Go Hybrid, ::Bloomberg: New York's 'black cars' should go green, ::New York City's Black Taxis Going Green
See also: ::Hybrid Taxis Finally Arrive in New York City, ::Hybrid Taxis in New York- If they Make it there, They'll make it Anywhere., ::Electric Taxis Coming to NYC?, ::More Hybrid Taxis Coming to NYC, ::Hybrid Taxi Bill Passed by NY City Council
I have been reading this very news for over a year now. What has been accomplished, if anything, in the meantime?
Awesome! Let's see it happen!
In new york you can already take OZO car. All their cars are hybrids already. and they've got wireless internet in the back of the car!
What you think about new Land Rover hybrid?
I'm curious what car they could purchase that would average 25 mpg in service, only cost $5000 more, and offer their clients premium service over a standard taxi. Fleet buyers probably pay less than $40,000 for a Lincoln Town Car.
The cheapest hybrid luxury sedan I know of is the Lexus GS 450 h, which is about $55,000 and still only gets about 23 mpg combined. The only vehicle that I can think of at all that might meet all of the requirements is the RX 400h, but with Toyota already at their capacity limit to build hybrids, they may not be able to make enough of them to replace the 10,000 Town Cars, and still wouldn't meet the 2010 requirement. Are there any other luxury hybrids expected to hit the market in the next year or two?
Here is a deal for "GREEN" or hybrids.Most of the Limo company are using Only few selected Hybrids cars and Only selected dealers and forcing owners and operators to buy to cut the few % commision in middle.Also providing Higher percentage Rate loan example on $20,000 loan.8.25% on total will cost $31,000 vehicle.Who is getting "GREEN" Toyota? bloomberg? or Green loan funding? or Owner of limo company.where driver is going to end with $31,000 car 100.000 miles in 1 year on toyota camry.Also not to forget it will cut only 1% of green in environment out of 2.
perfect scam...
Who is going to lay out the initial money to help us buy these cars in the first place. You don't see us guys and gals sleeping in the street waiting for the next job because we have thousands of dollarsto lay out initially. Good idea without too much thought.
There was a comment about Prius dimensions. believe it or not, it has more rear legroom than the Altima Hybrid, the Escape and Malibu! It's has much better mileage and check this out: it's cheaper by an average of about $4000! Why is it not an option?