Although New York City recently mandated that all taxi cabs must average 25 mpg by 2012, it looks as though the city might have to back pedal on its ruling. The plan was penned in ordered to lessen the environmental impact of New York City’s 13,000 taxis, but the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission apparently forgot to concern itself with passenger safety.
While the plan seems like a good way to turn NYC’s yellow taxis green, the TLC overlooked what kind of vehicles were need to meet the mandate – small cars and hybrids.
Many automakers – such as Honda , Toyota and Ford – have refused to certify the crash-worthiness of their vehicles for taxi use, due to the fact that New York law requires the use of partitions in taxi cabs. New York’s former favorite taxi cab – the Ford Crown Victoria – had a stretched wheelbase which allowed for plenty of space between rear-seat occupants and the mandatory partition. But since the advent of vehicles like the Toyota Prius and Honda Civic Hybrid for taxi duty, there simply isn’t enough rear passenger space to guarantee the safety of passengers with the required partition.
Even the larger Ford Escape Hybrid isn’t immune to taxi safety concerns, with a Ford spokesman admitting that “there is an increased risk for belted occupants to contact the partition in a collision.”
But the trouble doesn’t end there. Automakers are also warning that hybrids were never designed for “heavy commercial use.” It’s no secret that taxis aren’t the best cared for vehicles on the road, so it still remains to be seen how they will hold up in the long term.
The New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission has yet to respond to the safety and longevity concerns, but does list several hybrid vehicles on its approved vehicle list for taxi use.
