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Taxi fleet owners filed a lawsuit in federal court Monday to stop a fuel-efficiency mandate from going into effect October 1st, the date when all new taxis will need to be hybrid vehicles. Fleet owners' lawyers argue that only the federal government can set rules on fuel efficiency and vehicle emissions. Plus they contend that hybrid cars like the Ford Escape cannot be safely adapted into taxis because they're smaller with limited legroom for passengers, making them more vulnerable in crashes because of their proximity to the partitions. Michael Woloz, a spokesman for the group, tells the Post, "This is a tragedy in the making." Another lawyer for the group declares, "Those partitions are deathtraps." Also, they're expensive to install!
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1) California sets different emissions standards and I believe other states can follow either the Federal or the California guidelines;
2) They aren't saying those cars can't be on the road; they're saying that they won't be licensed as cabs. There's a big difference.
Let them drive without hybrids. The ones who do have hybrids will save more money in the long run and since the non-hybrids cant charge more, they'll be at a disadvantage.
I wonder if Ford is working on a hybrid Crown Vic.
I'll pass on those Hybrid's, thanks.
Stop by your local firehouse, and ask the crew there what they think of rescuing accident victims from a hybrid vehicle, and you too will share my lack of enthusiasm for hybrid vehicles.
Actually Ford is looking to dump the Vic. It is only available through fleet purchase now.
Wait, since when are cab drivers worried about passengers' safety?
Answer: when it costs them money.
Lawsuits tangle every other proposal to get something done; why not this?
Let them drive without hybrids. The ones who do have hybrids will save more money in the long run and since the non-hybrids can't charge more, they'll be at a disadvantage.
Usually I would agree, but I know the next time gas prices spike they'll come crying for a fuel surcharge. Why invest now in a good long-term solution when the customer can subsidize a bad decision later?
If cab drivers were actually concerned about passengers' safety, they'd drive slower and look before they changed lanes.
To DarkGemini:
Hybrids have been on the road 10 years now. Show me a single firefighter or first responder who's been injured by coming to the aid of folks in a damaged or destroyed hybrid or electric vehicle.
Fearmongering is so '80s.
Fire dept. had no issues or ill will checking out carseat installation in our Ford Escape Hybrid. The system, like the fuel delivery system in all modern autos BTW, automatically kills the electrical power in a catastrophic crash. And there's a readily accessible kill switch. Not to mention fire fighters and first responders respond to all manner of hazards, including burning infernos from train derailments, gas/fuel tanker crashes, etc. You insult their skills and training by acting as though a hybrid electric vehicle is somehow beyond or challenging to their skillset, tools and training.
Duane, the high voltage present in an electric hybrid presents an additional hazard to everyone present. Look into it.
They hate it now, wait till next year when the Mayor mandates all cabs be Smart Cars.
glennQNYC I've driven a hybrid for almost 3 years. Go back to watching McCain ads.
That's great Duane. They're not afraid to install a carseat in your Escape. So, how many hybrids have you wrecked again?
Thought so.
I'm not so much afraid, than I am smart enough to do my own research and draw my own conclusions. I've come to the conclusion that the chic factor of owning a hybrid doesn't negate the numerous drawbacks. Never once did I challenge NYFD's knowledge of or ability to perform their job. That insinuation was all your doing. Which is borderline hypocritical, by the way, coming from a man who needs help installing a car seat, but I digress.
Further to the point of Hybrids not being the answer, in the grand scheme of things, it's a proven fact that hybrid vehicles have a larger carbon footprint than a Hummer H1.