New York won't see exclusively hybrid taxis
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New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and environmental groups were all rallying around a push to make all of New York's taxi cabs hybrid by 2012. Alas, the courts say Bloomberg can't have his way. A federal judged sided with the taxi drivers who say what they drive and how fuel efficient it is is regulated by the federal government. The state government can't require them to drive hybrids.Bloomberg is likely moping around today in his organic cotton slippers today. A very sad day indeed. The law would have taken effect today. Any new cab would have had to be a hybrid, and as all cabs must be replaced every three years, the city's 13-thousand fleet would have been entirely hybrid by 2012.
Cab drivers say hybrids aren't built Cab Tough. Although currently about 1,500 cabs are hybrids. Gas mileage was the big issue behind the push for greener taxis. Currently, the Ford Crown Victoria gets 12 to 14 mpg. The new regulation would have required a minimum of 25 mpg.
Curse those federal laws. A state has rights! At least, that's what I imagine Bloomberg is saying right now.
[via NY Times]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
11-03-2008 @ 12:15AM
xenogears728 said...
Thing is this story has 2 sides to the whole thing. You failed to mention who's footing the bill for these cars. Its the cab drivers. They don't exactly get the cars they drive on for free. It would be unfair to the lively hoods of these people to force them to pay for even more expensive cars.
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