hallelujah! we're finally doing the obvious!

In Mexico City and Naiobi, two places I have taxied in a bit, it is common for taxi drivers to remove the front passenger seat entirely, making it easier for the right rear passenger to get in and stretch out. THe barrier just has to make a turn is all.

The North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG.org), funded via the Regional Transportation Council, is looking at providing some financial relief to support mandating hybrid vehicles for all taxi fleets in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area. Just an FYI. Personally, I think this is too expensive to justify public funding as an on-road control measure for air quality. We can get more "bang for the buck" through other strategies, but I thought your readers might be interested.

I live in NYC and the last thing I need is less legroom...I'm 6'2" and depending on the driver...things can be very tight. I'm also not confident that the hybrids can withstand the abuse that an NYC taxi has to take. There is a reason they use crown vics...and it has nothing to do with gas mileage. Ask any cabbie and he'll be the first to say he'd like to get better gas mileage. But what they really need is a specially designed cab, I'd even settle for the london taxis...

I too live in NY and between the cars and the trucks and the busses I would like to see SOMETHING done to reduce all polution.. I say give up the 10 inches..

As I commented on Worldchanging, it's difficult to believe that Crown Vics are getting 12 MPG when they're rated to get 21 MPG. If it's based on real-world usage, then the hybrids are going to get much lower fuel mileage, too, if driven in a similar manner.

If they want something like this widely adopted, they're going to have to stretch the passenger compartment on those Escapes and either lower the seats or raise the roof. I've been experimenting with all the hybrids on the market right now to see how each of them, in standard trim, might pan out as taxis or limos. The SUVs all lose headroom in the back seat because the batteries get placed beneath the seat. And only the RX 400h had a realistic (yet still tight) amount of legroom. Since I'm 6'5", I'm a good test subject.

Of course the companies could all just hire short drivers... :)

There are few taxi drivers using hybrids (Toyota Prius) in Vancouver, BC and they love them. When used as taxi the premium price paid for the Prius is easily recouped in fuel savings.

"When used as taxi the premium price paid for the Prius is easily recouped in fuel savings."

Not sure what Vancouver regs are, but taxi companies often pick up used police cars for about US$5,000. So a new Prius is about a US$15,000 premium compared to that.

With that differential and using US gas costs, the break-even point would be about 222,000 miles. It's tough to say how the maintenance and repair costs would pan out, assuming that it's a new Prius and a used Crown Vic, though generally speaking I'm sure the Crown Vic is much cheaper to keep up. It also has proven durability, both in terms of being able to take a beating and also lasting a long time. I'd be curious to see how the Prius is holding up as a heavily-used commercial vehicle, since it's not really designed to be used that way.

There's a guy in Boston running Priuses as limos - a company called PlanetTrans (or something like that).

I'm curious to see how these all pan out and hope they start making hybrid systems for more commercial vehicles.

let's make car idling illegal. too many people are sitting in their cars with their engines idling everyday everywhere. in nyc on any given city block especially in midtown there couold be up to a dozen cars idling with the drivers eating, talking on the phone, napping, etc. at all the schools in atlanta and all suburbs across the country there are dozens of idling suv's lined up waiting to pick up their kids. shameful as they should be more conscientous about protecting the air for their kids. LET'S MAKE IDLING ILLEGAL!

I have a transportation company in the high sierras which requires 4WD and high clearance thus SUV's and 6-8 passenger vans seem to make sense since my biggest revenue growth during past three years has been pick ups to or from one of three airports and passengers who are outdoor sports enthusiasts from skiiers and boarders in the winter to bikers and backpackers and golfers in the summer requiring roof or tailgate racks to allow for carrying such sports luggage. With this in mind, I am always looking for "hybrids" with 4WD AND large enough for 6-8 passengers who are coming to the area with more than a briefcase for outdoor active sporting activities in mind. So far, i have concluded that bthe Ford Diesel 4WD Excursions provides the best of what I need. But what I'd prefer is a hybrid like the all wheel drive Lexus (but larger passenger and luggage capacity than the Lexus) which offers automatically electric power during specific driving conditions.
Any suggestions?

Help. Okay Greenies, I am starting a Limo service in the Bronx NY.
I want to buy a car (possibly several)... that use green, non fossil power which will be size-comfortable, with some sophistication or luxury, and I am actually able to refuel in a real world application.
The vehicle price should be non-astronomical (start up business) but I will weigh that later. The fuel cost will be passed onto the clients. Reliability and structural integrity is a must in the five boroughs.
Email links, advice & comments.
Please,
Jack

Now all new cabs that are going to be put on service after October 2009 must at least 25 miles per gallon. this means that no more new crown victoria after October 2009. please see news:
http://www.wtol.com/Global/story.asp?S=7483536
This step following the move to make all taxi cabs in new york city hybrid by 2012.
For more details on ny taxi cabs in new york city please visit:
http://www.nycitycab.com/default.aspx