Automotive Insider

Reducing Our Carbon Footprint with Eco-Friendly Taxis

Honk, honk. A taxi drives by – smell the pollution? Taxis pump toxic emissions, including carbon dioxide (CO2), carbon monoxide (CO) and nitrous oxide (NOX), into the atmosphere. Worldwide, municipalities and corporations are taking the initiative to reduce automotive pollution by turning to alternative sources of energy.

Metropolises are going green everywhere, reducing their carbon footprint by using alternative-fueled vehicles. Popular methods include hybrid-electric vehicles, battery electric vehicles (BEVs), compressed natural gas (CNG), solar power, diesel, bio-diesel, and propane technologies. Private companies, such as GOGREENCAR and the Green Taxi Company, use vehicles like the Toyota Prius to green the taxi industry. City governments, in addition to regular Toronto taxi restrictions, are implementing stringent emission and mileage regulations to promote the use of alternative fuels.

Why should current taxis be replaced? Regular New York City taxis attain a mere 10-15 mpg and spew foul emissions throughout the city, responsible for an estimated 4% of the central city’s CO2 emissions and 1% of the entire conurbation’s carbon dioxide gasses. Alternative fuels, propelled by mileage requirements and stringent emission regulations, decrease the carbon footprint.

London suffers from severe pollution. Taxis account for 12% of NOX and 24% of particulate matter in central London. In June 2008, Mercedes unveiled the London EVito, a six-seater electric vehicle that is taking the market by storm. Running on a 35w lithium ion (Li-Ion) battery, the EVito runs for 75 miles on a single charge and takes 6 hours to recharge using the UK standard 240v input. It sports anti-lock brakes, electronic stability control and onboard diagnostics. In order to swerve around Blue Bell “kerbs” (curbs), the front-wheel drive EVito utilizes partial rear-wheel drive to achieve its tiny 25-foot turn radius.

San Francisco is in the same boat. 57% of San Francisco taxis are powered by hybrid-CNG-powered vehicles. A substantial portion of the remainder are Ford Escape hybrids. Drivers claim an estimated daily savings of $30 – $35 versus driving a manual Ford Crown Victoria taxi.

In Hong Kong, LPG-diesel vehicles are replacing conventional diesel-powered cars and reducing NOX emissions by up to 80%. In the Philippines, a taxi constructed from indigenous bamboo runs for eight hours on a biodiesel fuel. Victoria, British Colombia has over 70 hybrid vehicles running throughout the city, you can also request a hybrid when booking a Taxi in Toronto. Taxis serving airport travelers in Sydney, Australia utilize hybrid-electric vehicles and propane-propelled taxis. Chicago, Illinois; Denver, Colorado; and Boston, Massachusetts are also joining the “go green” movement.

Revolutionary research is being conducted across the globe. In 2013, Volkswagen plans to release its Milano taxi. Using advanced lithium ion (Li-Ion) batteries, the demure, charming Milano has a single broad side-door swerving open to reveal its four spacious seats. It has an electronically-limited speed of 75 mph and 67 continuous horsepower. Nissan plans to unveil its avant-garde Nissan Leaf in 2011, with a 100 mile driving range, while Mitsubishi, Renault, Toyota, Honda, Ford, Chevy and other companies are currently or planning on offering ecological vehicles.

Honk, honk. A taxi drives by. Take a deep breath – fresh air.