Want to buy a used Taxi?

[dogfriend]

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-green-cabs30-2009mar30,0,3523990.story

 

[dogfriend]

No takers?

http://blogs.consumerreports.org/cars/2009/04/nyc-hybrid-taxis-prove-reliable-.html

 

[SuRrEaLNJ]

alot of credit is due to the hybrids to be able to endure taxi use. maby this will be a huge step into dispelling the myths of hybrid reliability and bring more to the alternative fuel movement.

 

[dogfriend]

Hybrids are ideal for taxi service. For one thing, the full hybrids like the Escape and the Toyota HSD shut down the engine whenever you are stopped. Think about how much time conventional taxis sit idling.

 

[Maniak]

The escape doesn't turn off the engine if the a/c is on "max a/c"..
I work with someone that has it and during the summer the motor pretty much never shuts off.. During the winter months (not many months here in southern AZ) it does turn off since he doesn't need "much" a/c.

Taxi service does show how welll they are made though, I'll give 'em that...

~Mark

 

[dogfriend]

The escape doesn't turn off the engine if the a/c is on "max a/c"..

The first version of the Prius (01 - 03) worked the same way because the compressor was belt driven like most AC. Toyota designed the 2nd version with an electrically driven AC compressor. I have that version. The AC works really well and the engine only runs when it needs to recharge the HV battery.

I would think that in SF, you would not need to run Max AC very often if at all. In NYC, you would probably need Max AC pretty often in the summer.