Los Angeles now has a fleet of low emission, compressed natural gas (CNG) Ford Transit Connect taxis to help the city upheld its State’s reputation for environmental consideration.
The first of ten yellow cabs have now been delivered to the Californian city, with a further 40 set to be put into service by 2012. Ordered by California Yellow Cab of Orange County, the firm is now the first in California to offer the Connect CNG vehicles, but won’t be alone for long. A further 69 models have been order by Yellow Cab of Anaheim, also based in California, bringing the total number of CNG Transit Connect Taxis that will soon be servicing Southern California to more than 100.
According to the US car maker, the interest in CNG vehicles is being driven by the lower costs of running on CNG compared to combustion models and the approvals of CNG-powered vehicles by governing agencies like the California Air Resources Board (CARB).
Tim Conlon, president and general manager of California Yellow Cab, said there is a lot of excitement over the new taxis.
“Our goal is to convert our entire fleet to alternative fuels, so bringing the CNG Transit Connect Taxis into service is an exciting step in that direction,” said Conlon. “The drivers are excited too. They have been lining up to be among the first to get behind the wheel of a CNG-powered taxi.”
CNG-powered Transit Connect Taxis are becoming more popular in other parts of the US as well, servicing cities such as Las Vegas and Chicago.
The standard Ford Transit Connect features a 2.0-liter I-4 engine that achieves 22 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway according to official US ratings.The estimated fuel economy of a CNG-powered Transit Connect Taxi is about the same as the standard gasoline version. However, operating costs because CNG costs roughly half of that of gasoline per gallon. In addition to CNG, Transit Connect Taxi is available with an engine preparation package for conversion to liquefied propane gas (LPG).
“Taxicab operators will save up to $2 per gallon over gasoline at the pump,” said Mitchell Pratt, chief operating officer, Clean Energy. “Because the vehicles’ tailpipe emissions are near zero, Ford’s CNG Transit Connects qualify to drive in California’s carpool lanes and, compared to petroleum versions, will reduce greenhouse gases by almost 30 per cent.”
