The State of the NYC Taxi
Assistant Commissioner for Safety & Emissions Peter Schenkman March 9, 2006
Current Fleet by Model Year
Vehicle Make and Model Ford Crown Victoria Toyota Sienna Other TOTAL* <=2001 959 0 13 972 2002 609 0 54 663 2003 3,151 0 75 3,226 2004 2,792 372 13 3,177 2005 3,270 564 41 3,875 2006 678 167 21 866 TOTAL 11,459 1,103 217 12,779
* Includes medallions in storage
Average Age of Fleet= 3.3 years
TLC Initial Inspection Results
Make and Model Ford Crown Victoria Toyota Sienna Other
Initial Inspection Failure Rates 56% 26% 46%
Taxi Vehicles
Ford Crown Victoria • • • • • • • • Highlights Rear legroom - 45.6” Manufacturer supported 5 Star Crash Rating by NHTSA Side air bags optional Built on 1979 platform Body on frame design 12-14mpg (est.) and LEV emissions standard Not wheelchair accessible
Key Statistics • 82% (10,499) of the current yellow taxi fleet are stretch • 9% (957) non-stretch
Taxi Vehicles
Toyota Sienna • • • • • Key Statistics • 9% (1,103) of the current yellow taxi fleet • Owner/drivers and DOVs Highlights Rear legroom - 39.6” Growing manufacturer support 4 Star Crash Rating by NHTSA 5 standard airbags (2 front, 2 side, 1 curtain) 14-16mpg (est.) and only minivan to meet ULEV-II emissions standard nationwide Not wheelchair accessible
•
Cleaner Vehicles
• Hybrid Taxicabs
– Current experience – Short-term outlook
• Other types of clean vehicles
– Emissions-based standards – Fuel efficiency-based standards
Cleaner Vehicles - Hybrids
Current Experience 22 hybrids in use as medallion taxis – 19 Ford Escapes – 2 Toyota Highlanders – 1 Toyota Prius – 60+ hybrids in use as FHVs Strong TLC initial inspection results Positive driver and passenger experience Lower fuel costs and low maintenance costs when compared to typical taxi vehicles
•
• • •
Cleaner Vehicles - Hybrids
Short-Term Outlook • Medallion sale
– 62 hybrid and alternative fuel medallions
• Hybrids increasingly being used with regular medallions
– Dozens of new hybrids coming to the market over the next several years
• Modifying hybrid rule specifications
– Eliminating smaller vehicles that have not been proposed for use (Accord, Civic, etc.) – Increasing visibility of hybrid vehicles
Cleaner Vehicles
• California Air Resources Board (CARB) Standards
– LEV – Low Emissions Vehicle
• Ford Crown Victoria
– ULEV II – UItra-Low Emissions Vehicle
• Toyota Sienna
– PZEV – Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle with 15 year/150,000 mile emissions control warranty
• Hybrids (AT-PZEV)
• All vehicles are nearly as clean or cleaner than hybrids • All vehicles meet TLC Rules for hybrid taxicabs
Accessible Vehicles
Modified Ford Freestar
• Highlights Modification is not manufacturer-supported – no manufacturer warranty High inspection failure rate: – Suspension components – Brakes/ABS – Sub-frames 13-15 mpg (est.) and LEVemissions standard Rear-entry accessibility Not compliant with federal mobility aid guidelines
•
• Key Statistics Used for all 27 wheelchairaccessible medallions • •
•
Accessible Vehicles
Proposed Vehicle Specs
• • • • • • Key Statistics Currently, only the Amerivan PT meets the specifications Highlights Manufacturer and modifier warranties in place Designed for commercial use Approved for taxi use in Chicago 13-15 mpg (est.) and LEV-II emissions standard Side-entry accessibility Can transport 2 wheelchair and 2 non-wheelchair passengers at a time Compliant with federal mobility aid guidelines
•
•
Accessible Vehicles
Side Entry Rear Entry
Vehicles - Comparison
Type of Vehicle Ford Crown Victoria (Stretch) Toyota Sienna CE Estimated Cost Rear Passenger Leg Room 45.6” Rear Passenger Headroom 37.9” Length of Vehicle 212”
$27,500-MSRP
$23,775-MSRP
39.6”
40.2”
200”
Ford Freestar (modified for accessibility) Amerivan PT (Proposed Vehicle Specs)