Yellow Cab Thinks Greener With Hybrids

By Vasanth Sridharan, The Dallas Morning News

The sign atop the bright yellow 2007 Toyota Camry proudly proclaims, "Yellow Cab Is Going Green."

The Camry is the first gas-electric hybrid in Yellow Cab’s fleet. The company hopes to add 10 to 15 hybrids to its fleet in the coming months, and by 2011 it hopes to replace every car with a cleaner-burning one.

"It’s good for the environment; it’s good for everybody," said Jack Bewley, president of Yellow Cab Co. in Dallas. "We want to be part of the solution" to air pollution.

But the company has been able to find only one suitable car.

Mr. Bewley said most hybrids do not meet the size requirements of taxis. The Camry, however, is just about the same size as the car the company uses now, the Ford Taurus. It also gets an average 34 miles per gallon, 14 more than the 2007 Taurus, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

"We think that the Camry and Taurus are the minimum size we’ve got to be at," he said.

Many of his current taxis are minivans, Mr. Bewley said. He said he has not been able to even test-drive a comparable hybrid vehicle, but he is looking at the Ford Escape.

The North Central Texas Council of Governments, which includes 233 member governments, has been working to come up with incentives for all vehicle-for-hire fleets to switch to cleaner-burning vehicles.

At a ceremony to honor Yellow Cab for the hybrid program Wednesday, the council will showcase 16 to 18 cleaner vehicles as options for fleets to use. Some larger hybrid vehicles such as the Escape and the Toyota Highlander will be included.

"We’re completely fuel- or technology-neutral," said Mindy Mize, principal transportation planner for the council. "What’s out there and available, you’ll probably see a lot in the hybrid market."

Mr. Bewley said that the time is right to add cleaner technology to the company’s fleet, something he has been trying to do for four years with little success. He said hybrids offer the best option.

Once the pilot program is up and running, customers will be able to request a "green" cab if they are planning a trip in advance but will have to settle for whatever cab is available if they are taking a trip from an airport.

The council of governments hopes to unveil a marketing plan by next summer that could include a green-vehicle hotline, partnerships with corporations to look to green vehicles first and logos and insignia for green vehicles.

Mr. Bewley said that for Yellow Cab specifically, the pilot program will let the company see how well the hybrids hold up to the rigors of cab driving. He said he is optimistic about the results.

"Toyota has a good name, so we’re not expecting any problems with it," he said.