This exceeds the 210 vehicles a month that the TLC estimates are needed to meet new fuel efficiency standards imposed by the City and are above and beyond those already available in the retail market.
Commission chairman Matthew W. Daus said: “There are already more than 1,300 hybrid taxis on the streets of New York. They save drivers around $6,500 a year and have been passing inspections 85% of the time, as compared to the average 45% for other prevalent taxicab vehicles.
“Switching to a hybrid makes more sense for drivers' wallets and for our environment.”
Last December, the TLC imposed regulations requiring all taxicabs coming into service to achieve an EPA city mileage rating of 25 miles per gallon (mpg) by October 1st this year.
By 1st October next year, all new taxicabs must achieve a minimum city driving rating of 30mpg. By 2012, the taxi fleet will be all-hybrid, or a mix of hybrid and other clean vehicle types that produce similar mpg.
