NEWS

Transport Organization Praises NYC Taxi Commission For New Clean Car Rules
Friday, April 18th, 2008

Non-profit transport organization SmartTransporation.org hailed 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.

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.