New York cabs set to go all-hybrid

New York City taxis are set to become an entirely hybrid fleet thanks to the passing of a new regulation dramatically increasing taxicab mileage.

The New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission voted through a regulation requiring all new taxicabs to achieve a city mileage rating of 25 miles per gallon. This regulation, which will increase the minimum mileage to 30 miles per gallon a year later, applies to all taxicabs apart from those designed for disabled accessibility.

The City, which already has 627 hybrid electric taxicabs following their introduction in late 2005, wants to replace all of its 13,000 taxicabs with hybrid vehicles by 2012.

Mayor Bloomberg made that vow in May this year. Gas electric hybrid vehicles approved for use in the fleet include SUVs such as the Toyota HighLander, and four-door sedans including the fuel efficient Toyota Prius.

The Commission says that the new regulation will save the vehicle owners up to $11,000 per year in petrol costs. It also claims better performance during the three inspections that each taxicab receives every year. Hybrid electric vehicles pass their initial inspections 85 per cent of the time, compared to 54 per cent for the traditional Crown Victoria vehicles.