Hi Guys,

I have been interested in hybrids for a while and have been thinking of where they would best serve the community. I could get one - but I only drive 10 miles a week so it would not make a big diffeerence in my emissions. However taxis drive all day and have the engine on all day - if we can get a couple of taxi companies to buy a couple of hybrids - that would make a big change!

With the new hybrid Camry coming out this summer I think it is finally time to start lobbying for taxicab companies to buy hybrid cars. To start this off I have started a website called www.GreenTaxi.org. I have been looking for people interested in helping with this in my local St Louis region - but have come up with nothing so far. My vision for the website is to provide information that can be used to persuade taxi companies to buy hybrids. I originally wanted to start a non-profit and get funding to give grants to taxi companies to buy hybrids - but the regulatory steps involved in that is a little more involved than what I do right now. Right now the kind of information that I would like involves:

* How do you get tax refund for hybrid

* What are the advantages of hybrids - esp in terms of CO2 and emissions since that could eventually be used to persuade local government to give further tax advantage.

* Driving tips

Any other ideas are very welcome!

Tim

 

I think this is a great idea. I'm not exactly sure how one would lobby taxi companies, or if it's at all like lobbying governments, but I think it's fantastic that you're making the effort. There has been a post or two around this forum about hybrid taxis that have been spotted in various places, but I have no St. Louis specific information. I can direct you to a couple of tax forms, however.

Honda Civic Hybrid info site:
http://automobiles.honda.com/models/...e=Civic+Hybrid

IRS info site:
http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/...104549,00.html

This forum is full of lengthy explanations of the benefits of hybrids, emissions and fuel efficiency. Take a look around, and hopefully you'll find something that's useful for you.

 

Welcome to GH.

There's a ton of emmissions information on the EPA's website, www.epa.gov There's also www.fueleconomy.gov as well, which has information.

 

Thank you guys for the information. I have looked around at this website and it looks like they have been doing this in NY and SF already and one guy is doing it in Vancouver with a prius. Amazing stuff. It will really help my cause to have some testimonials from people that have done this in the past. I think with the Camry Hybrid it will really be a lot easier to convince taxi companies to take this on. Thanks!

 

I see hybrid taxis operating around me on a regular basis (Connecticut, Hartford area.) I still haven't managed to figure out who operates them because they usually zip on by before I can get a good look. I first started noticing them when a bright yellow HCH II passed me on the highway, and just the other day saw an HCH I dressed the same way with the little "TAXI" sign on the roof.

 

So I was able to find the company in SF that operates hybrid escapes. I contacted them and I will let you guys know how they like the cars.

http://www.yellowcabsf.com/community/index.php