May 22, 2007 1:06 pm US/Eastern
NYC's Yellow Cabs Going Green
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
Yellow cabs are going green. On Tuesday, New York City Mayor Bloomberg announced a plan to improve the environment by improving the gas mileage for the city's taxi fleet.
According to the mayor, it will be 25 miles per gallon or bust. That's the fuel efficiency that the mayor is pushing for the city's taxi fleet by the year 2012.
"There's an awful lot of taxicabs on the streets of New York City obviously, so it makes a real big difference," Bloomberg said. "These cars just sit there in traffic sometimes, belching fumes; this does a lot less. It's a lot better for all of us."
Currently, roughly 90 percent of the city's 13,000 yellow cabs are Crown Victorias. And while they may be roomy inside for passenger comfort, they get a paltry 10 to 15 miles per gallon for city driving.
On the other hand, there are currently only 375 fuel-efficient hybrid vehicles cruising city streets.
That number will increase to 1,000 by October of 2008, and it will grow by about 20 percent each year until 2012 when every yellow cab will be a hybrid.
Hybrid vehicles run on a combination of gasoline and electricity. They emit less exhaust and achieve higher gas mileage per gallon.
Before Bloomberg's term ends in 2009, new cabs will be required to get at least 25 miles per gallon.
The green plan is part of Bloomberg's wider sustainability plan for the city to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent by the year 2030.
The hybrids that have been successfully tested in the city's taxi fleet over the past 18 months include the Toyota Prius, the Toyota Highlander Hybrid, the Lexus RX 400h and the Ford Escape.
"I'm happy with this hybrid," said one cabbie, who drives a green vehicle that gets around 28 miles per gallon.
Another cabbie said, "It may be good for the city, but what about the passengers? They want to be comfortable in the seat in the back."
A third cabbie said, "You'll have more space and more safety in [a Crown Victoria]."
City officials said the new standards, when fully implemented, are expected to reduce carbon emissions by more than 200,000 tons per year.
Hybrid vehicles are typically more expensive, but the city said the increase in fuel efficiency would save taxi operators more than $10,000 per year.
Yahoo Inc. said it would donate 10 hybrid Ford Escape taxis, which get 36 miles per gallon.
There is no word yet on how the costs will be distributed and whether a fare hike will be required to foot the bill.
It's also not yet clear if Mayor Bloomberg will push for the same requirements for the city's bus fleet.
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