(Image from The Daily Telegraph)
In news this morning, New York’s famous taxis will be made into hybrid vehicles by 2012, according to Reuters and The Daily Telegraph.
“NEW York’s 13,000 yellow taxis are going green, with Mayor Michael Bloomberg ordering the entire fleet to be hybrid by 2012.
Announcing the initiative on NBC’s Today Show, Mr Bloomberg said it was part of the city’s long-range plan to reduce its carbon emissions by 30 per cent by 2030.
“There’s an awful lot of taxi cabs on the streets of New York City obviously, so it makes a real big difference,” said Mr Bloomberg, who is often touted as a potential independent US presidential candidate.
“These cars just sit there in traffic sometimes, belching fumes.”"(The Daily Telegraph: City’s yellow cabs turn green, 23 May 2007)
Chinese organisation Xinhua News Agency also featured the story, saying that
“Currently, there are just 375 fuel-efficient hybrid vehicles among the 13,000 taxis rolling on city streets. That number will increase to 1,000 by October 2008 and will grow by about 20 percent each year until 2012, when every yellow cab will be a hybrid.
Hybrid vehicles run on a combination of gasoline and electricity, emitting less exhaust and achieving higher gas mileage per gallon.
Some taxi drivers who already drive hybrids said they are good for business.
“If I have to put like 30 dollars on a regular cab, with the hybrid I would put about 10 to 15 dollars,” a driver told a local TV channel.”" (Xinhua News Agency: NYC taxis to go entirely hybrid by 201, 22 May 2007)
Hybrid cars are something I believe could really take off in the next 10 or so years. I’ve certainly started seeing them more on the roads in Sydney City. I’d almost classify this story as human interest, because its not an entirely significant step towards combating global warming. There is however the value of prominence, with the mayor of New York stepping in to take action, and currency due to the popularity of being “eco-friendly”. I’m still not sure however what the article is doing as feature news for a Sydney paper.
