US Supreme Court Squashes City's Hybrid Taxi Dreams

Flickr user dM.nyc

In 2007, the TLC ruled that any cabs purchased after fall of 2009 had to get at least 30 mpg, something that cab drivers quickly fought, saying the city couldn't force them to buy lower-emissions or hybrid vehicles. And they seem to have won. The US Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal over lower court decisions that ruled against the city, effectively ending any options to mandate fuel efficiency. However, neither side seems happy about it.

TLC chairman David Yassky told the Times, “I am bitterly disappointed. New York City is trying to reduce literally millions of tons of carbon dioxide emissions, and the Supreme Court has told us we can’t do it." Mayor Bloomberg said at a conference yesterday that New York's appeal was supported by several other cities across the country: “The cities are those that are addressing real-world problems like climate change and energy policy. The federal government seems unable to address those issues." He said he plans to lobby Congress to change the law.

Michael Woloz, a spokesman for the Metropolitan Taxicab Board of Trade, wasn't exactly ecstatic with the decision either. He told the Post that they support fuel efficient cars, but under city rules it would have been "impossible" to make sure a hybrid fleet met safety standards. He told NY1, "Unfortunately when the original plan that the mayor announced in 2007 was accelerated by four years, it put us in a position where we simply couldn't comply."

Under court rulings even the "Taxi of Tomorrow" doesn't need to be fuel efficient. Recently riders chose the Turkish-made Karsan model as their favorite possible taxi, though it's unclear how many miles per gallon the model would get. Currently nine of the 12 car models that can be used as taxis are hybrids, but restricting the list to just hybrids would probably be considered a form of regulation and therefore blocked. As would converting every car into a Flintstones-esque foot-powered vehicle, we're guessing. And don't you dare think of making people share their rides.

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By Jaya Saxena in News on March 1, 2011 12:21 PM

Comments [rss]

Jibreel K Riley

most if you hipsters will never have to become a NYC Cabbie or ever think of buying a Crown Victoria however those are some of the best cars you can have for public service use as a cab, they are built like tanks, you can buy a used one at a police action for under $5000, the parts to maintain them are very low for a job that is not one of the highest paying professions in the New York City area... if your a immigrant or just a middle class person whom wants a change up from mopping floors at some ritz condo (wait they have illegals to do those jobs) why make something harder to become that is something vital and iconic about New York City? No matter what they tell you a hybrid Toyota Camay is not built for commercial use... if I need to replace a water pump in my Crown Vic, I can go to Parts America and do just that as if I need to do that in my hybrid Camay I'm going to have to become a electrician... a lesson in unattended consequences plus cab fare from Manhattan to JFK goes up from $40 bucks to $80 you'll be really pissed

Guest

The Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal because government cannot mandate that cab drivers must buy lower emission cars. It doesn't mean they can't buy them, just that they are not being forced to. Yassky and Bloomberg are idiots if they can't see that. Then again, we all know Bloomberg's stance on government: If you don't agree with him, he'll push for a law to make you agree with him.

unretrofiedforu

Yes and no - it's declined because only the Fed has the final say @ regulating fuel economy and usage. However, that's just a convenient cop out.

mistermarkdavis

If we are serious about getting rid of particulate pollution in the air we breathe we should consider banning the charcoal used by street venders. this has an impact in Manhattan of more than ten times the taxi fleet. Modern technology like catalytic converters do a great job.

Mordicai

Buying an all-new fleet of cars would actually INCREASE carbon emissions, due to all the pollution created by the manufacture of new vehicles. Can the TLC mandate that any NEW cabs be hybrid? Is that okay? Failing that, I say give them a tax credit if they buy a hybrid. Is that crazy? Or are tax breaks only okay for the insanely rich?

tiffany

let's just ignore the old cabs and only go for the newer ones. they're much prettier and clearner anyway ;-)

Kojak

That's quite all right. If the TLC can't make cabbies buy low carbon emitting vehicles, the higher price of gas will.

Guest

Cabbies are scum.

unretrofiedforu

NO bloomy - it's cuz American democracy is at the whim of big oil.

Kinda hard to be the biggest company in the world when one of the biggest cities in the world is looking to de-carbonify (and essentially use less of your product) its world famous taxi fleet.