Comments on: No-Brainer of the Month: Taxis That Get Good Gas Mileage http://hugeasscity.com/2008/09/11/no-brainer-of-the-month-taxis-that-get-good-gas-mileage/ > so much wonderful packaged in such a mess Mon, 15 Mar 2010 05:03:35 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Steve http://hugeasscity.com/2008/09/11/no-brainer-of-the-month-taxis-that-get-good-gas-mileage/comment-page-1/#comment-1695 Steve Tue, 16 Sep 2008 13:38:42 +0000 http://noisetank.com/hugeasscity/2008/09/11/no-brainer-of-the-month-taxis-that-get-good-gas-mileage/#comment-1695 joshuadf@7: I believe magnetic steering has been an expensive failure in Holland, though I don't have any references for it right now. By contrast, I believe curb-guided buses (as used in Germany, the UK and Australia) have been in use for 20 or 30 years and have been fairly successful. Not that that really relates to hybrid taxis. joshuadf@7: I believe magnetic steering has been an expensive failure in Holland, though I don’t have any references for it right now. By contrast, I believe curb-guided buses (as used in Germany, the UK and Australia) have been in use for 20 or 30 years and have been fairly successful.

Not that that really relates to hybrid taxis.

]]> By: Noah Iliinsky http://hugeasscity.com/2008/09/11/no-brainer-of-the-month-taxis-that-get-good-gas-mileage/comment-page-1/#comment-1694 Noah Iliinsky Tue, 16 Sep 2008 01:02:35 +0000 http://noisetank.com/hugeasscity/2008/09/11/no-brainer-of-the-month-taxis-that-get-good-gas-mileage/#comment-1694 @ Madisonian According to the NYT, the hybrids' gas savings pay for their higher purchase cost pretty quickly. That doesn't surprise me, given the cost of gas, the number of miles per day that taxis drive, and the relative milage of the Prius and Crown Vic. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/23/nyregion/23taxi.html @ Madisonian

According to the NYT, the hybrids’ gas savings pay for their higher purchase cost pretty quickly. That doesn’t surprise me, given the cost of gas, the number of miles per day that taxis drive, and the relative milage of the Prius and Crown Vic.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/23/nyregion/23taxi.html

]]> By: Madisonian http://hugeasscity.com/2008/09/11/no-brainer-of-the-month-taxis-that-get-good-gas-mileage/comment-page-1/#comment-1693 Madisonian Sun, 14 Sep 2008 14:56:01 +0000 http://noisetank.com/hugeasscity/2008/09/11/no-brainer-of-the-month-taxis-that-get-good-gas-mileage/#comment-1693 First of all, as I understand it, there are two business models for taxi fleets: one where the taxi company owns the cab and leases it to the driver, who pays a daily rental plus gas. In the other model, the taxi driver owns the car, pays for gas, and rents or owns his own medallion. In both models, there are disincentives to buy a hybrid cab. A police surplus Crown Vic is much cheaper than a new Prius. Even a new Ford Fleet Crown Vic is cheaper to fix than than a Prius, since the basics of its "Panther" platform go back to 1979. So, the total cost of ownership may be lower for the Crown Vic, even with costly gas. Plus the Crown Vics have a huge trunk. It is easier to market a Prius painted green, though. First of all, as I understand it, there are two business models for taxi fleets: one where the taxi company owns the cab and leases it to the driver, who pays a daily rental plus gas. In the other model, the taxi driver owns the car, pays for gas, and rents or owns his own medallion. In both models, there are disincentives to buy a hybrid cab.

A police surplus Crown Vic is much cheaper than a new Prius. Even a new Ford Fleet Crown Vic is cheaper to fix than than a Prius, since the basics of its “Panther” platform go back to 1979. So, the total cost of ownership may be lower for the Crown Vic, even with costly gas. Plus the Crown Vics have a huge trunk.

It is easier to market a Prius painted green, though.

]]> By: joshuadf http://hugeasscity.com/2008/09/11/no-brainer-of-the-month-taxis-that-get-good-gas-mileage/comment-page-1/#comment-1692 joshuadf Sun, 14 Sep 2008 14:11:10 +0000 http://noisetank.com/hugeasscity/2008/09/11/no-brainer-of-the-month-taxis-that-get-good-gas-mileage/#comment-1692 Hey, how about controlling the full driving experience: <a href="http://berkeley.edu/news/media/releases/2008/09/05_autobus.shtml" rel="nofollow">Researchers showcase automated bus that uses magnets to steer</a>. I've seen stories lately about how to use less gas while driving, this is the logical next step. After that, robots! Hey, how about controlling the full driving experience: Researchers showcase automated bus that uses magnets to steer. I’ve seen stories lately about how to use less gas while driving, this is the logical next step. After that, robots!

]]> By: Sabina Pade http://hugeasscity.com/2008/09/11/no-brainer-of-the-month-taxis-that-get-good-gas-mileage/comment-page-1/#comment-1691 Sabina Pade Sat, 13 Sep 2008 18:17:01 +0000 http://noisetank.com/hugeasscity/2008/09/11/no-brainer-of-the-month-taxis-that-get-good-gas-mileage/#comment-1691 Regenerative braking works on trains, too. Suitably designed electrically powered train locomotives create braking force by generating electricity when reducing speed or when travelling downhill, thereby considerably diminishing their overall electricity consumption. Regenerative braking works on trains, too. Suitably designed electrically powered train locomotives create braking force by generating electricity when reducing speed or when travelling downhill, thereby considerably diminishing their overall electricity consumption.

]]> By: AngryCyclist http://hugeasscity.com/2008/09/11/no-brainer-of-the-month-taxis-that-get-good-gas-mileage/comment-page-1/#comment-1686 AngryCyclist Sat, 13 Sep 2008 17:58:33 +0000 http://noisetank.com/hugeasscity/2008/09/11/no-brainer-of-the-month-taxis-that-get-good-gas-mileage/#comment-1686 I've been seeing all those surplussed taxi's (mostly Crown Vic's) running around here in the south end driven by teenagers, so while the taxi company's are greening up, many of those vehicles are still on the road, now with 24" rims and spinners. sigh. also, note on the Police vehicles, many of them are running on CNG, look for the little blue diamond on the right rear bumper. I’ve been seeing all those surplussed taxi’s (mostly Crown Vic’s) running around here in the south end driven by teenagers, so while the taxi company’s are greening up, many of those vehicles are still on the road, now with 24″ rims and spinners.

sigh.

also, note on the Police vehicles, many of them are running on CNG, look for the little blue diamond on the right rear bumper.

]]> By: Finishtag http://hugeasscity.com/2008/09/11/no-brainer-of-the-month-taxis-that-get-good-gas-mileage/comment-page-1/#comment-1690 Finishtag Fri, 12 Sep 2008 16:26:47 +0000 http://noisetank.com/hugeasscity/2008/09/11/no-brainer-of-the-month-taxis-that-get-good-gas-mileage/#comment-1690 Perhaps now we can get away from the regressive "fuel surcharge" that taxis in Seattle are charging. My reference would be a raising of the meter rates because the surcharge unfairly punishes short taxi rides. Can we do anything to repeal this? Is this Nickels? Perhaps now we can get away from the regressive “fuel surcharge” that taxis in Seattle are charging. My reference would be a raising of the meter rates because the surcharge unfairly punishes short taxi rides. Can we do anything to repeal this? Is this Nickels?

]]> By: JoshMahar http://hugeasscity.com/2008/09/11/no-brainer-of-the-month-taxis-that-get-good-gas-mileage/comment-page-1/#comment-1689 JoshMahar Fri, 12 Sep 2008 16:18:20 +0000 http://noisetank.com/hugeasscity/2008/09/11/no-brainer-of-the-month-taxis-that-get-good-gas-mileage/#comment-1689 This really is great news. Eric De Place over at Sightline did some interesting calculations about how important improving lower Mpg cars is. http://daily.sightline.org/daily_score/archive/2007/12/20/18-is-enough Those Crown Victoria's are certainly on the lower end. The next step is all those Police vehicles. Although that one might be a bit tougher. This really is great news. Eric De Place over at Sightline did some interesting calculations about how important improving lower Mpg cars is.

http://daily.sightline.org/daily_score/archive/2007/12/20/18-is-enough

Those Crown Victoria’s are certainly on the lower end. The next step is all those Police vehicles. Although that one might be a bit tougher.

]]> By: joshuadf http://hugeasscity.com/2008/09/11/no-brainer-of-the-month-taxis-that-get-good-gas-mileage/comment-page-1/#comment-1688 joshuadf Fri, 12 Sep 2008 13:44:13 +0000 http://noisetank.com/hugeasscity/2008/09/11/no-brainer-of-the-month-taxis-that-get-good-gas-mileage/#comment-1688 I'm sure for taxi companies it's a cost-benefit analysis just like for anyone. Sure it will cost less once you buy the new vehicle... but when is the best time to buy? In this case, last year would have been a good choice. I’m sure for taxi companies it’s a cost-benefit analysis just like for anyone. Sure it will cost less once you buy the new vehicle… but when is the best time to buy? In this case, last year would have been a good choice.

]]> By: Steve http://hugeasscity.com/2008/09/11/no-brainer-of-the-month-taxis-that-get-good-gas-mileage/comment-page-1/#comment-1687 Steve Fri, 12 Sep 2008 09:57:05 +0000 http://noisetank.com/hugeasscity/2008/09/11/no-brainer-of-the-month-taxis-that-get-good-gas-mileage/#comment-1687 On buses: I know the metro site is saying the hybrids get better mileage, but vaguely remember reading that the hybrids were actually slightly *less* fuel efficient than the previous round of articulated buses had been (not massively, just something like 5.1 mpg as opposed to 5.4 mpg). If I remember correctly, the hybrids were more fuel efficient than comparable non-hybrid buses would have been, but in general buses get worse mileage than they used to because bus engines are now being optimized to reduce diesel emissions rather than to be as fuel efficient as possible. On buses: I know the metro site is saying the hybrids get better mileage, but vaguely remember reading that the hybrids were actually slightly *less* fuel efficient than the previous round of articulated buses had been (not massively, just something like 5.1 mpg as opposed to 5.4 mpg).

If I remember correctly, the hybrids were more fuel efficient than comparable non-hybrid buses would have been, but in general buses get worse mileage than they used to because bus engines are now being optimized to reduce diesel emissions rather than to be as fuel efficient as possible.

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