Why Go Green!

Can Green Taxies Really Make a Difference?

Sometimes really simple ideas can have a big impact. According to www.fueleconomy.gov, the Ford Crown Victoria (one of the most common taxi cabs in use) discharges 9.3 tons of greenhouse gas emissions per year; whereas, the Toyota Prius only discharges 3.4 tons per year. The difference is an average of 5-6 tons per year. What's more, the average Taxi is driven 64,000 miles per year vs. the average consumer car which is driven 12,500 miles per year.

There are over 13,000 "Medallion" cabs and 40,000 other for-hire (livery) vehicles in New York City alone. It is estimated that there are at least 40,000 cabs (with taxi certificates) in the United States. Now, here's the loose math. The savings between a Ford Crown Victoria taxi and a Prius taxi would be the 5-6 tons a year difference in greenhouse gas emissions multiplied times 5 (the yearly mileage ratio between taxi cabs and the average car), multiplied times the number of regulated taxi cabs in the United States.

5 x 5 = 25 x 40,000 taxi cabs = 1 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions per year. Other benefits include substantial reductions in petroleum consumption, air pollution and noise pollution.

Again,this is loose math. Not ALL taxi cabs are the Ford Crown Victoria and the total number of taxi cabs in the United States does not include livery fleets. However, the most popular taxi cabs in New York City do include:

• Ford Crown Victoria (9.3 tons)
• Honda Odyssey (8.6 tons)
• Isuzu Oasis (8 tons)
• Chevrolet Venture (8.6 tons)
• Ford Free Star (9.2 tons)
• Toyota Sienna (8.5 tons)