You know the hybrid revolution is really starting to take effect when New York City requires its cab drivers to make the switch.
But it’s not just the environment that’s smiling with all of these new low-pollution vehicles drive people around “The City that Never Sleeps.” The cab drivers also love the new cars! Even though they had to invest their money into a hybrid vehicle, the fact that they are spending an average of $25 less per day on fuel balances out the cost.
Today, there are more than 13,000 taxis on the streets of New York City. Of that number, more than 1,000 of them are hybrids. That might not seem like a huge percentage, but it’s a great start considering they didn’t even start making the switch until the end of 2005.
Toyota Highanders are an adequate percentage of hybrid taxis in the city, too. At last count, there were 92 of these fuel-efficient cars/taxis hauling tourists and rude locals wherever they want to go. In addition to that, there are also 31 Toyota Camrys and 18 Toyota Priuses roaming the streets and sipping the gas instead of guzzling it. That brings the grand total of Toyota hybrids serving as NYC taxis to 141. That’s not too shabby!
I wonder how many of the passengers in the new taxis have the urge to visit a nearby Toyota dealer and see how they can get a similar vehicle. I think I probably would.
