By Edward Niedermeyer
February 28, 2008
According to The New York Times, Big Apple mayor Michael Bloomberg is about mandate that the City's 10k car service limos must average 25 mpg by 2009 and 30 mpg by 2010. As the vehicles in question currently average between 12 and 15 mpg, they'd almost certainly require hybrid drivetrains to achieve Bloomberg's lofty goals. The plan requires approval by New York's Taxi and Limousine Commission. Passage seems likely. Commissioner Mathew W. Daus' says "it is to the great credit of black-car industry leaders that they have collectively embraced Mayor Bloomberg's efforts to reduce harmful emissions." Daus' willingness to green-up may something to do with the fact that Hizzoner isn't going force limo companies to comply with the new standards through punitive fines. Instead, Bloomberg is proposing a state sales tax waiver on purchases of more efficient limos and low-interest financing, through corporate partnerships with Deutsche Bank, Lehman Brothers, and Hudson Toyota/Penske Auto Group.
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POWERED
February 28th, 2008 at 7:54 pm
Man I can’t wait till me and my entourage hit the town with our lady friends in a sweet black Prius limo.
February 28th, 2008 at 8:01 pm
Patience, good sir. Those stretched Lexus Prius limousines will be in showrooms very soon.
February 28th, 2008 at 8:24 pm
Seems like a heck of a jump in 2 years.
John
February 28th, 2008 at 9:19 pm
They are all panthers (Mostly Mercury and Lincoln) now. They are going to have to go to something else because ford is shutting down panther production soon.
February 28th, 2008 at 10:00 pm
Um, if California (and the dozen or so other states that use CARB rules) can’t set their own fuel economy standards, how is NYC going to be able to do the same?
I swear NYC has London envy. This. The “congestion tax” (that has foolishly been floated around Chicago as well….). Cooky mayor. Just get the feeling NYC is starting to go a little overboard.
Something tells me Wall Street big wigs like their limos. They’re not gonna wanna give up those rides for something small and cramped to get better mpg. Guess they can no longer go to London cause of the congestion tax. Maybe Tokyo can become the world finance center? Or perhaps Amsterdam again? Dubai?
February 28th, 2008 at 10:22 pm
It may pass, but the fleets cannot and will not change so quickly. This is not to say that there will not be lots of ugly results at in the limo business and at city hall. I really wish places like NYC and California would take a cue from Wyoming and be a little less socialist.
February 28th, 2008 at 10:25 pm
Never mind all the other complaints about the neglected Panther, but a Powerstroke-ish drivetrain from Euro-spec Land Rovers would hit the jackpot right about now.
February 28th, 2008 at 10:40 pm
Penske Auto Group? So we’re talking stretched smart cars now. That would be cool, in an insane kind of way.
February 28th, 2008 at 11:57 pm
most of these cars have only one passenger in them anyway. they could be half the size, no one owuld notice except size queens.
February 29th, 2008 at 12:00 am
I am seeing a lot of Altima hybrid taxis on the NYC streets. Black cars would not be a bad extension…
February 29th, 2008 at 12:15 am
Is there any personal decision that Bloomberg thinks people ought to be allowed to make without the intervention of government?
February 29th, 2008 at 1:18 am
The long-wheelbase Chrysler 300C with the MB Blue-tec 3 liter diesel would be one very available and un-radical solution. But given how much time these cars stand still (waiting as well as in traffic), a gas hybrid makes more sense.
February 29th, 2008 at 1:31 am
This mandate seems tailor made for the E series Mercedes with the 3.0 CRD.
Now if Ford were to drop one of their Diesels in the Panther, say the 2.7 or 4.4L models they could play in this sandbox.
An Infinity based on the Altima Hybrid would also be a good fit here.
February 29th, 2008 at 4:05 am
Don’t question the environmental weenies – they care more than you, and therefore are better people.
God loves them, and hates all that disagree with them (Sorry, I mean “Mother Earth”)
February 29th, 2008 at 8:25 am
Maybe the boys from “Top Gear” can weld something up for Mike…
February 29th, 2008 at 8:40 am
@Paul
The long-wheelbase Chrysler 300C with the MB Blue-tec 3 liter diesel would be one very available and un-radical solution.
I don’t think the 3.0 is even necessary. If I were Chrysler, I would make a LWB 300C with the 2.2 4-cylinder diesel for that market.
There’s a reason why that engine powers a large portion of the world’s taxis.
February 29th, 2008 at 9:39 am
What is the city MPG on a MB Bluetec? I think it can work!
February 29th, 2008 at 9:47 am
George Soros’ ride of choice was MB wagon.