It’s been a while since the first hybrid taxi cabs hit major cities. Now San Francisco’s first 15 hybrid taxis, all Ford Escapes, have made it
to about the 300,000-mile mark, according to the LA Times. The milestone means that those first cabs are nearing retirement age; the city will soon take them off the road as a result.
“Their longevity
shows that hybrid technology is more durable than previously imagined;
they also have saved drivers about $9,000 a year, depending on gas
prices and number of shifts driven,” the report said.
About 15 percent of both San Francisco and New York’s fleet of cabs are currently hybrids. Hybrids are considered ideal for taxi cab use. Not only do they get better mileage than conventional gasoline cars, but they also have cleaner emissions, and do better still at idling and lower speeds–where city taxis spend most of their time. (Image credit: Wikimedia Commons)
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