Judge blocks Hub’s rule on hybrid cab fleet

[Right Lane Cruiser]

"Currently our attorneys are working closely with city attorneys to determine what the next steps will be."

Noah Bierman - BOSTON - July 24, 2009

I'd love to see all taxi services convert to hybrid vehicles, but I'm not sure legislation of this sort is the answer. --Ed.

Boston cab owners won a significant victory yesterday when a federal judge ordered the city to stop enforcing a year-old rule requiring them to buy new hybrid cars by 2015.

US District Judge William G. Young’s granted the request for a temporary injunction after the city refused his request to voluntarily halt implementation of the plan while he weighed his decision on the legality of the restrictions.

A lawyer for the cab owners who filed suit against the regulations said he hopes the injunction will prompt the city to reach a settlement.

“The cabdrivers recognize that we have to do everything we can to protect the environment,’’ said Paul H. Merry, who represents the Boston Taxi Owners Association, which filed the suit.

Cab owners have pleaded for the right to buy used hybrids or other fuel-efficient vehicles to meet the city’s requirements. That flexibility would save them money not only on the price of the vehicle, but also the cost of insurance, which can run as high as $14,000 to $20,000 a year for a new Toyota Camry Hybrid, cab owners say.

But the city has insisted the owners buy new vehicles, arguing that a phased-in approach over seven years will help the environment and provide a comfortable ride to passengers without causing undue hardship to... [Read More]

[JusBringIt]

I cannot understand why they aren't allowed to buy used

[Shiba3420]

Originally Posted by JusBringIt

I cannot understand why they aren't allowed to buy used

I'd rather all taxis were puchased new to ensure that the vehicle was in a given shape when it first starts being used (not that new cars can't be lemons sometimes). But when I read they used to buy ex police cars, I couldn't help but think, no wonder those things often rattle, they already had 1 hard life and now they have another.

I really think states make a big mistake by specifying hybrids and should allow/disallow cars based on emmisions per mile. However if you have taxis burning gas while sitting still, that works against them and might make the machine illegal in that context.

[JusBringIt]

Originally Posted by Shiba3420

I'd rather all taxis were puchased new to ensure that the vehicle was in a given shape when it first starts being used (not that new cars can't be lemons sometimes). But when I read they used to buy ex police cars, I couldn't help but think, no wonder those things often rattle, they already had 1 hard life and now they have another.

I really think states make a big mistake by specifying hybrids and should allow/disallow cars based on emmisions per mile. However if you have taxis burning gas while sitting still, that works against them and might make the machine illegal in that context.

I've never driven in a NEW taxi before, however if the person buying the car feels it has a certain amt of life left where it'll save them money vs buying new, then I see no problem with it.

Taxis idle a LOT, hybrid cabs see a huge benefit for this reason.

[paratwa]

Playing Devils Advocate, assuming I'm a luddite cab company owner that doesn't want to comply with the hybrid mandate, I'd buy hard used IMA hybrids with dead traction batteries on the cheap. I'm pretty user you can still run IMA hybrid cars with dead traction batteries.

This way I've spent a much smaller amount of money to comply with the law than my competitors. This means I can hire more drivers, or pay my drivers more, which a big competitive advantage for me over you.