Ford Motor Co. (NYSE:F - news) on Thursday introduced a mini-fleet of hybrid taxicabs to serve New York City, part of its push to promote cleaner, more fuel-efficient vehicles. Initially, only six Ford Escape hybrids will enter New York's taxi fleet. But city officials said the entire fleet of about 13,000 vehicles may be converted to gas-electric hybrids within five years. "Hybrids save our customers money at the pump, and they reduce America's dependence on foreign oil," Chief Executive Bill Ford said at an event to unveil the vehicles at a Ford dealership in Manhattan. "We're headed toward a world where cars will be smarter, safer, and more fuel-efficient, like the hybrids," he said. The Ford hybrid sport utility vehicle gets as much as 36 miles per gallon in city driving, double the mileage of the taxi fleet's current Ford Crown Victoria model. A test model drove more than 500 miles on one tank of gas in New York, the CEO said. Ford, which posted a $284 million third-quarter loss, is betting on hybrids as a cornerstone of its turn-around strategy. The Detroit-based company recently said it is planning to boost global production of more fuel-efficient vehicles tenfold to 250,000 a year by 2010. The No. 2 U.S. automaker has doubled its hybrid vehicle team even as it is laying off staff in other departments. Ford currently offers two hybrid models, the Escape and the Mercury Mariner. The company will offer hybrid capability in half of its models by 2010. Pictures start HERE
Finally they see the light, thanks to Toyota taking the initial step. People wonder why Toyota has a good reputation? Innovation, reliability and their technology is a year or two ahead of US auto makers.
If I'm correct, the gas engine in the Escape has to operate when the A/C is on. If that's true I don't see any advantage to using the escape as a taxi in NYC.
I'm surprised at your post, considering you from PA. There's anywhere from 4-6 months out of the year in NYC where you wouldn't need the AC at all. Being a taxi, they'd be more likely to keep it cooler, so let's call it 4 months. (being conservative) It still seems worthwhile for that.
What I'm really wondering is what kind of "deal" Ford had to make to get these cars into NY Taxi service. That's a pretty closed market. My suspicion is that they have been provided to one of the limo operators at $1/year/unit on lease. This would give Ford the publicity and also some usage history.
Glad to see other companies are starting to realize how valuable hybrid vehicles are. It's now happening with more car manufacturers. It is because of this competition in hybrid technology that both the consumer and the environment win. This is perhaps not the final frontier, but definitely a new and very promising frontier.
Is it just me or does Bill Ford look like some sleazy car salesman. [Broken External Image]:http://us.news3.yimg.com/us.i2.yimg.com/p/ap/20051110/capt.nyar10511101909.green_taxis_nyar105.jpg There's some guy at Ford - I can't remember his name - who swears that he's an old-fashioned gearhead kind of guy. He has made statements indicating that can't change from that. Oh man! I wish I could remember his name.
The Escape and the Highlander are good but not great vehicles for NYC taxi use. NYC requires cars to be certified usable as taxies, and very few cars are certified. But they have now made all current models usable as NYC taxis except the Insight and the <cough> Siverado. You could not use a regular civic as a Taxi in NYC. If I were picking a vehicle it would be the Highlander, it has the room, acceleration and is not terrible with fuel. The Prius is a great car but its a little small for a NYC taxi. NYC taxies dont need to run thier AC more then 4 months of the year and the fuel savings would be greater then average due to the type of driving in NYC. ANY hybrid picked would have far lower costs to the driver. Brake pads, gas, transmissions all last longer on hybrids. All but the 400h and the Highlander cost less then the typical crown vic. http://www.nyc.gov/html/tlc/html/home/home.shtml
