'Taxi of Tomorrow' approved for New York City - New York News | NYC Breaking News
Member Center:
New York City's future yellow taxi has been chosen... and it's a van.
It will be a fleet of Nissan NV200s, which are car based compact vans.
They will come with skylights and electronic charging plugs, plus retractable steps that make entering and exiting easier.
What they won't be is hybrid. The models being produced by Nissan are all gas powered. Nissan only considering a hybrid model. That means most of the 6,000 hybrid taxis on the streets of the city will disappear.
The Taxi and Limousine Commission approved the new model Thursday with a 5-2 vote.
The Nissans will replace the more than 13,000 existing cabs as they age and are retired, based on a five-year schedule created by the TLC.
The new taxis will be on New York roads starting in the fall of 2013.
The Japanese-made Nissan is not wheelchair accessible. But TLC officials say there are now about 200 accessible taxis dispatched upon request, and another 2,000 are to be added as the rest of the fleet hits the road.
The back doors are sliding, which will be convenient on New York's crowded streets.
The new fleet might reduce some Manhattan noise pollution. They are coming with a "low-annoyance" horn which will not be as loud as normal car horns.
The MSRP of the new taxi is just below $30,000.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
 | 
All content © Copyright 2000 - 2013 Fox Television Stations, Inc. and Worldnow. All Rights Reserved.
Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Ad Choices |
