NYC's Yellow Cabs Go Green

By Erik Kancler

New York City last week took the historic step of allowing the use of hybrid-electric vehicles as taxi cabs. At the heart of the decision, handed down by the city's Taxi and Limousine Commission, is growing public concern over New York's consistently poor air quality, which is among the worst in the country.

The TLC's decision puts a final stamp on the city's "Clean Air Taxies Act," unanimously supported by the City Council in June and signed by Mayor Michael Bloomberg in July. New York's cab drivers can now choose from six hybrid models. With roughly 2,000 of the city's 12,760 taxicabs set to be retired within the next year, the hope is that taxicab owners will take advantage of government tax incentives, lower sticker prices—for some models—and the anticipation of decreased operating costs of hybrids when replacing their old Ford Crown Victoria's which currently account for 93 percent of the fleet. The city is also offering 81 discounted medallions, or licenses, specifically for hybrids in an effort to jump-start the program.

New York City's decision is part of a growing effort to introduce hybrids and other alternative-fuel vehicles into municipal auto fleets around the country. San Francisco and Vancouver, for example, have already introduced hybrid taxis into their fleets, and in Boston, a private hybrid-only fleet of eight Prius's has been created to offer a more environmentally friendly alternative to compete with city cabs, none of which are currently hybrids. According to an article in Grist Magazine, British Columbia's largest taxi owner, Yellow Cab, now has 40 hybrid vehicles with plans to convert 25 to 30 vehicles a year. With 210 cars, the whole fleet could be converted in under six years.

What makes New York City's decision so important is not necessarily its immediate impact on air quality—it would take the City several years before an appreciable portion of the fleet could be converted—but its high profile. "Obviously, this is a great decision for New Yorkers," says Mike Millikin, publisher of Green Car Congress, and noted hybrid expert. "And over time it should have a measurable effect on air quality. But the immediate response here is to send a message to other cities to stay tuned: If Hybrids can be successful as taxi-cabs in New York City, they ought to be able work pretty much anywhere."

Hybrids, because they use a joint gas-electric power delivery system and regenerate much of their own power, achieve greater fuel efficiency and emissions standards than conventional gasoline-powered vehicles. For example, the six vehicles picked by New York City as taxi cabs (three sport-utility vehicles -- the Ford Escape, Toyota Highlander, and Lexus RX 400H; and three four-door sedans -- the Toyota Prius, Honda Accord, and Honda Civic), have city fuel economies ranging from 29 to 60 miles per gallon, with an average of just under 40 mpg -- more than twice that of the Crown Victoria, which manages only 18 mpg.

Whereas hybrids have little edge, environmentally speaking, over conventional autos on the highway, where they rely mostly on their gasoline-powered engines, city life gives these cars a chance to shine. From a stop, hybrids accelerate using their efficient electric motor, and when they brake they recapture energy that would otherwise be lost to heat. As a result, hybrids use far less gasoline than their conventional counterparts in stop-and-go conditions like those of New York City.

On the flip side, hybrids have yet to prove that they can withstand the day-to-day wear and tear of New York City-style driving. Unknowable repair costs, not to mention the cost of training maintenance crews to work on hybrids may raise red flags for owners accustomed to the reliability and predictability of the sturdy Crown Victorias.

Yet, the Prius has consistently garnered high ratings from reviewers, most notably from the consumer protection group, Consumer Reports since its introduction in 2001. Its reliability ratings (subscription only) have been high every year, and its overall performance has prompted CR to say, "Toyota's second-generation Prius is unbeatable for its combination of economy, acceleration, and interior room. … Reliability has been outstanding."

Vancouver-based cabbie, Andrew Grant, the self proclaimed “world’s first hybrid taxi driver”, purchased his first Prius in 2000 and claims that the car has cut his repair costs in half and reduced his monthly fuel bills by up to $1,100. He also says his passengers are regularly impressed with the vehicle's spaciousness, saying that many of customers dial him up specifically for environmental reasons without apparent concern over legroom.

But don't hybrid vehicles cost more? Not necessarily. Both the Civic and Prius, even without government rebates, have significantly lower sticker prices than the Crown Victoria, while the Ford Escape is comparably priced. And as hybrid sales continue to rise rapidly, the prices of hybrid vehicles should continue to fall in line with their conventional counterparts. It seems difficult to believe, however, that many cab drivers will be as eager to embrace the Lexus, the Highlander, and the Accord which not only have substantially higher sticker prices, but have significantly lower fuel economy than the Escape, Civic, and Prius – without any added leg room.

Of course, the real impetus for the city's decision is the positive impact they'll have on health and the environment. Hybrids substantially reduce emissions of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, and hydrocarbons, which together result in health problems such as lung and cardiovascular disease, cancer, asthma, and birth defects. According to recent studies, 60,000 Americans die each year from inhalation of particulate matter, most of them in polluted cities like New York. In fact, NYC has the highest asthma mortality rate in the country.

Given all this, New Yorkers are understandably keen on hybrids. According to a June survey by the Global Strategy Group, 70% of New Yorkers endorsed the plan, most of whom cited poor air quality and health effects as their primary concerns. Many of them viewed this as a voting issue, creating additional political pressure to get something done.

How far will hybrids go to reducing these problems? With the adoption of standards that allow for vehicles with a wide range of fuel efficiency and emissions standards, the answer depends on which vehicles the industry adopts. A Prius-based fleet would have far greater environmental benefits than any of the other models, based on fuel efficiency and emissions standards of all six cars. The Prius also leads the hybrid pack with 38.6 inches of rear legroom, has the most proven reliability, and a low sticker price, all of which indicate that it would be the hybrid of choice, at least at the outset.

In the June survey more than two-thirds of New Yorkers said they wanted hybrids to comprise the bulk of the city's taxi fleet within five years, and that they were willing to vote to support that goal. With 2,000 older cabs set to be retired in the next year and in consideration of the fact that the average lifespan of an NYC Cab is about 4-5 years, it's not crazy to think they might get their wish.

Mother Jones

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