What Makes The Greenest Cab? Green transportation is all the rage these days, especially hybrid vehicles. Popular wisdom may lead some, including civic leaders and politicians to believe that the greenest vehicle is a hybrid. NYC Mayor Mike Bloomberg has been fighting to Green the Yellow Cab fleet in that city by forcing all new cabs to be hybrids. The iconic NYC TaxiCab often sets the pace for the rest of the country’s cabs. However would hybrids in NYC really make green cabs? And would the rest of the country’s cab industries follow suit? The answer may surprise you.

1. What makes the greenest cab?

2. The Right Solution will involve the most appropriate technology , not necessarily the newest.

3. 13,287 Cabs in NYC Replaced Every 3-5 Years (240,000 Miles)‏

4. Some Replaced Sooner

5. Taxi Cabs are Already Green.

6. 1 million passengers a day

7. NYC Subway Daily Ridership: 6,500,000 NYC Buses Daily Ridership: 2,400,000 (~ 4500 buses)‏ NYC Cabs Daily Ridership: 1,000,000 (13,287 cabs)

8. Marathon Checker Introduced in 1961 Virtually Unchanged for 20 years

9. Chevy Caprice in the 80s My Dad

10. Crown Victorias are most numerous, but will be discontinued

11. My Cousins London Cab Couldn't “Hack It” on NYC Roads

13. Ford Crown Victoria Stretch Volkswagen Jetta TDI Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid Saturn Aura Hybrid Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid Lexus RX400h Hybrid Toyota Camry Hybrid Toyota Prius Hybrid Toyota Highlander Hybrid Saturn Vue Greenline Hybrid Nissan Altima Hybrid Ford Escape Hybrid Mercury Mariner Hybrid

14. Toyota Prius Too Small, Too Fragile Not Enough Available

15. Ford Escape Hybrid Too Big, Too Inclined to Roll Over Mediocre MPG Performance

16. Cabs don't have to be hybrid to be Bright Green

17. Ford Transit Connect: Just Right?

18. $22,000. Simple Tested Technology 2.0 ltr 4 cylinder. 22MPG City/25MPG Hwy

19. Purpose Built Taxi Cab Plugin EV & Clean Diesel Models within 3 years

20. Photo Credits, In Order: flickr: essgee flickr: iceman75 flickr: robertoraimondo TeamSystems flickr: vidiot flickr: williamkwok Rego-Stan Maintenance flickr: aldask Karen Gelch flickr: smcgee flickr: moth TeamSystems motortrend.com taxi-library.org GregoryHeller.com twitter @gregoryheller