SmartTransportation.org Hails New Clean Car Rules from the Taxi and Limousine Commission

SmartTransporation.org celebrates the leadership of the NY Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) in its unanimous passage of new clean cars rules today. Today's ruling will change the fleet of high-end, for-hire vehicles in NY (black cars) to vehicles of at least 25 miles per gallon starting January 1, 2009 and 30 miles per gallon starting January 1, 2010. These rules will bring cleaner air and lower emissions to New York and will save drivers money as fuel costs continue to rise.

New York, NY (PRWEB) April 18, 2008 -- SmartTransporation.org celebrates the leadership of the NY Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) in its unanimous passage of new clean cars rules today. Today's ruling will change the fleet of high-end, for-hire vehicles in NY (black cars) to vehicles of at least 25 miles per gallon starting January 1, 2009 and 30 miles per gallon starting January 1, 2010. These rules will bring cleaner air and lower emissions to New York and will save drivers money as fuel costs continue to rise.

"These regulations do not select a specific technology in order to achieve these requirements, so future technologies can be incorporated into New York's fleets," said Jack D. Hidary, Chairman of SmartTransportation.org. "We applaud the Commission for approving this initiative, and we thank the Mayor, leading investment banks and law firms, and the Partnership for NY for the work they have done to make it a reality," stated Hidary.

We applaud the Commission for approving this initiative, and we thank the Mayor, leading investment banks and law firms, and the Partnership for NY for the work they have done to make it a reality

TLC Commissioner and Chairman Matthew W. Daus explained, "As did the similar requirements for medallion taxicabs, this regulation -- the first of its kind anywhere -- will create the cleanest, greenest large city black car fleet in the world ... Black will be the new green for the black car industry, and drivers will see a new shade of green when they save money every time they fill up at the fuel pump."

Black cars often spend significant amounts of time idling in front of their clients' buildings. An idling vehicle emits twenty times more pollution than one traveling thirty-two miles per hour. Changing these vehicles to hybrids, which have minimal emissions while idling, will greatly improve New York's air quality. The proposal's high mileage standards are currently only attainable through hybrid technology.

In 2005, SmartTransportation.org took the lead in advocating for hybrid taxi cabs in New York. Today the city has over 920 hybrid taxis on its streets, and Mayor Bloomberg has mandated that the entire fleet change to high-mileage, low-emissions vehicles by 2012.

Mayor Bloomberg stated, "Between yellow taxis and black cars, more than 23,000 TLC regulated cars will be required to be more efficient. This will allow us to achieve substantial emissions reductions for our City- and keep us moving towards our long-term goal of creating a truly sustainable City."

Lincoln Town Cars, the vehicles most often used as black cars, are EPA-rated at 15 miles per gallon in city driving, whereas equivalent hybrid vehicles can achieve twice this mileage and pollute far less. Many drivers report 11 mpg with the Lincoln Town Cars in real world conditions, whereas the two-wheel drive Escape Hybrid (now being used as a yellow cab in the city) achieves more than 30 miles per gallon in city driving and close to 500 miles per tank of gas. If black car drivers used hybrid vehicles getting similar mileage, they would be able to go an entire shift without taking time to fill up.

About SmartTransportation.org:
SmartTransportation.org is a 501(c)(4) non-profit organized to increase the awareness and availability of clean technology in the transportation sector across the US. Other organizations working with SmartTransportation.org on hybrid vehicles for NYC include NRDC, The League of Conservation Voters, Sierra Club, American Lung Association of the city of NY and Set America Free. www.smarttransportation.org

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