Lean Mean Green Machines

 

While the current taxi technology debate will likely continue into the future (I don’t foresee drivers keeping mum even after they install the system), it is important to note that the TLC and drivers seem to agree on one technology upgrade that will help make New York a cleaner city.

It is well known that the Bloomberg administration ordered all of NYC’s taxis be hybrid by 2012. I literally read Bloomberg’s plaNYC from front to back, and after doing so, I am even more convinced that improving the city’s air quality must be a top priority.

It is no secret that New York City’s air quality violates the federal health standard for photochemical smog, but how that affects people on a day-to-day basis is perhaps talked about less at the water cooler. The city has one of the poorest air qualities in the United States and one of the highest asthma rates. 

By requiring that the city’s taxis go green, the City is acknowledging the need to address this issue and attempt to make a significant change. Granted, taxis only account for about 13,000 cars on the street at a given time. But given their constant use and the fact that they are regulated and thus offer an opportunity for mandated improvement, this requirement should be welcomed by all.

Drivers will spend less on fuel, the City can say that it is being proactive, and New Yorkers will be able to breathe even just a little bit easier. Some hybrid cars on the market, such as the Ford Escape, provide twice the fuel efficiency of the Ford Crown Victoria (which comprises more than 93 percent of the city’s taxi fleet today). According to the Sierra Club, “the use of such hybrid cars can cut emissions of global warming pollutants by 50 percent or more in comparision with traditional vehicles.”