Bloomberg asks taxis to hybridise

[Saddle Bronc 124]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6682427.stm

NY yellow taxicabs 'to go green'

New York's yellow taxis will go hybrid in five years, in an effort to cut air pollution and tackle climate change, Mayor Michael Bloomberg has said.

Hybrids run on petrol and electricity, therefore emitting less exhaust.

The new vehicles are to be phased in immediately, replacing the current fleet which numbers about 13,000.

"The benefits are going to be felt by generations of New Yorkers. Going hybrid will shrink the city's carbon footprint," Mr Bloomberg said.

Ambitious plan

The environmentally-friendly models also achieve greater mileage to the gallon.

Currently the city's taxis get about 14 miles per gallon on average, while the new fleet would provide fuel efficiency of about 30 miles per gallon.

"Implementing tougher standards for the more than 13,000 taxis in this city will provide the same clean air benefits as removing 32,000 privately owned cars from our streets," Mr Bloomberg said.

Hybrid vehicles are more costly, but the City Council said the increase in fuel efficiency will save taxi drivers more than $10,000 (£5,000) every year.

The move is part of the mayor's ambitious plan for a 30% reduction in the city's greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.

Note: looks to me that Bloomberg hasn't yet figured that a good portion of the reason for poor fuel economy is the frequent traffic jams/stalls--so hardly realistic to DOUBLE fuel economy by hybridising.

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Note: looks to me that Bloomberg hasn't yet figured that a good portion of the reason for poor fuel economy is the frequent traffic jams/stalls--so hardly realistic to DOUBLE fuel economy by hybridising.

Cherry,

He has figured that out. Haven't you heard of his proposal to introduce a congestion tax on cars entering the city during peak hours? He wants to promote the use of mass transit. On top of that, the city is working with the Port Authority and the states of NJ and NY to create a new trans-Hudson tunnel to connect NJ to the city, that will more than double passenger rail capacity going in.

[mawilson 2,133]

Note: looks to me that Bloomberg hasn't yet figured that a good portion of the reason for poor fuel economy is the frequent traffic jams/stalls--so hardly realistic to DOUBLE fuel economy by hybridising.

I don't understand what you're trying to say here.

Frequent traffic jams/stalls would cause most hybrids to use the electric motor alone which uses NO fuel.

Fuel economy would easily double.

I've seen lots of hybrid yellow cabs in NYC -- mostly Toyota Prius and Ford Escape.