On November 10, 2005 the first hybrid taxi fleet was launched in New York City. The vehicle runs on a combination of gas and electricity and generally emits no exhaust when travelling under 25 mph. These hybrid taxis are indeed a step in the right direction for a city that has over 12,000 taxis. The switch to hybrid vehicles is a result of the “Clean Air Taxis Act” which implemented some new regulations this past summer giving taxi drivers the option to choose their vehicle from seven gas-electric hybrid models. I do find it strange that the choice of vehicle is a Ford Escape, an SUV to navigate the busy streets of space-challenged New York. (thanks Green Tourism for the lead)
