 Another Northeast city (the first having been New York City) is getting in on the greening of their public transportation: Boston Mayor Thomas Menino has announced that 2015 the city’s entire taxi fleet would have to be converted to hybrid vehicles.
According to the mayor's office:The new standards for hybrid vehicles will be phased in as current vehicles reach their mandatory retirement age of six years. As a result of this new plan, owners will be required to replace their taxis with hybrid vehicles. Hybrid taxis will reduce carbon emissions from the taxi fleet by 50% and will save taxi drivers $1,000 a month in fuel costs. It is anticipated that within two years more than 50% of the fleet will be hybrid. It is required that by 2015 100% of the fleet is hybrid. The Boston Globe has reported somewhat negatively about this decision. They express concern about the cost of replacing the batteries in hybrid cars. It is also up for debate as to whether or not hybrids are large enough to hold people and their luggage if, for example, they are on the way to the airport.
As for the taxi drivers of Boston, it is reported they are quite livid about the 2015 set date for which they must go hybrid.
"I don’t think anyone is against the idea of hybrids. But the thing is to put them on so fast, to come up with $30,000 is very difficult for a lot of guys," said John Ford, owner of City Cab.
Taxi companies typically use Crown Victorias that cost roughly $6,000 to $7,500, while hybrids may cost between $26,000 and $30,000.
We'll have to see how this pans out, but I do think a lot of good points are being brought up here. I would love to have a more eco-friendly vehicle but I do not have the means and doubt I will by 2015 either.Labels: boston, eco-friendly, hybrid car, taxi |
