Many taxi companies want to help protect our Texas environment
and are looking at various options to increase the efficiency of
their fleets. By choosing taxis with cleaner emissions technology,
taxi companies can help take care of Texas by contributing to
cleaner air while saving money on fuel costs.
Why Cleaner Taxis?
Reports from the U.S. Department of Energy show that the average
taxi travels 60,000 to 80,000 miles per year. With this level of
mileage, taxi operators can make great strides in reducing
emissions by replacing their older taxis with newer models that
make use of cleaner
technologies (PDF), (Help with PDF). These technologies could
include alternative fuel or advanced propulsion technologies, such
as hybrid or plug-in electric systems, among others.
Cleaner taxis are already on the road in New York City and San
Francisco, but they're not alone. Here in Texas, you can see clean
taxis on the road in San Antonio, Houston, and Dallas.
The Green & Go Clean Taxi Partnership
The Green & Go Clean Taxi Partnership, administered by the
TCEQ,
assists the state's larger cities in making cleaner choices a
reality. The partnership can:
- help increase public awareness of hybrid, electric, and
alternative-fuel vehicles as cleaner alternatives, and
- help eliminate roadblocks to incorporating these alternatives
into taxi fleets.
Cleaner choices can result in cleaner air quality.
Working with local governments and other stakeholders, the TCEQ
offers outreach and technical assistance to cities, taxi companies
and operators looking to improve fleet efficiency by replacing
older, less efficient vehicles with newer, more efficient, and
lower-emitting ones. This could include hybrids and
alternative-fuel vehicles.
Other related efforts encourage businesses and passengers to
request these clean taxis as more of them arrive on the roads of
Texas.
Current Partners
These links take you off the TCEQ Web site (
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How Can You Do Your Part?
Partner with the TCEQ in any of the following ways:
Cities, Taxi Companies, and Taxi Drivers
Help us take care of Texas. Consider becoming a partner with the
TCEQ's Green & Go Taxi program. Well provide technical
assistance, promotional opportunities, such as news releases,
media-event support, and marketing materials that can help your
efforts to clean up your taxi fleet. Marketing materials include a
decal that adheres to the vehicle, officially branding it as a
clean taxi.
Taxi Customers
Be on the lookout for the Green & Go logo the next time
you're hailing a taxi in Texas or make a special request for one
the next time you call for a taxi. There may not be many on the
road now, but over the next several years, cleaner taxis (and the
Green & Go logo) will become a more common sight in cities
around the state.
