TC Taxi's Prius Cabs: Blue+White=Green

For the numerous air passengers who opt to catch a cab from the airport to their final destination their options are now a little greener.  TC Taxi, Inc. out of the Tri-Cities is up and running in Spokane and a large portion of their fleet looks to be hybrids, as in the Toyota Prius hybrid.  Long gone are the yellow, gas-guzzling Ford Crown Victoria of yesteryear. 

Nowadays the shift to hybrids makes sense with petroleum topping $80/barrel and gas prices hovering around $2/gallon.  Greencab in San Francisco is doing it, STITA at Sea-Tac, and Vancouver, BC has had a number of hybrid taxis for years.  We're in good company, and you benefit as well.  Hands down, swapping a cleaner Prius for an exhaust-belching Crown Vic is progress in our book.

First impressions are key.  And for all those passengers who arrive here in Spokane and see a fleet of blue and white hybrids awaiting them it definitely sends a message.  It says that that businesses here are looking to new, innovative, and green technologies to impact their bottom lines.  We like that.

Comments

[LukeB]

Given that hybrids have a similar lifetime energy cost as a regular new car, hyping them up is just that, hype.

[METROSPOKANE]

Unfortunately, "lifetime energy costs" are not the only measure here. Please talk to us about comparative emissions or even the multiplier effect of a healthier business taking home more $$$. There are lots of ways to look at this issue. Why focus on one to make a point?

[rob]

Nice point LukeB! Does anyone know how many green cabs they have in their Spokane fleet?

[rob]

Nice point Metro! Does anyone know how many green cabs they have in their Spokane fleet?

[G]

http://www.spokesmanreview.com/tools/story_pf.asp?ID=210206
9 out of 21 are Prius.

[LukeB]

In the end, lifetime energy cost is the the most important metric that matters to the environment, but few consumers or businesses are willing to tackle that head on.

Is it better for Spokane specifically that they're using these cars? Sure, because they'll pollute our skies less and we have a problem with that here. Is it better for the world overall? Debatable.

[Jim]

Thanks for showcasing the green fleet here in Spokane. It's all about reducing carbon emissions, and yes it may be costly to run these hybrids, but like compact flourescent lights - a little more expensive but eco friendly. Eventually technology and demand will even things out and we will all be less dependent on dead dinasours. Kudos to T.C. for their investment in the planet and the future and for including Spokane in the project. Likewise kudos to the Tri Cities - which is quickly making claim to be the number one progressive thinking, economic and soon the largest urban center of Eastern Washington. More akin to Seattle and Vancouver than to our provincial way of thinking as exemplified in fear of technology postings.
Ride the blue and white and support clean initiatives!