Ford Makes a Smarter, Greener Taxi
by Andrew Nusca, SMART PLANET, February 9, 2010
Jostling for a spot on city streets crowded with taxi cabs, Ford on Tuesday announced the release of the compressed natural gas-powered Transit Connect.
An upgrade to the original model, the 2011 Transit Connect offers three additional inches of leg room, an information and entertainment system in the back for passengers and a fare-tracking system — right on par with most of the newest models roving around New York City streets.
The difference, however, is that most cabs in NYC are either aging Ford Crown Victoria full-size sedans or newer Escape Hybrid SUV models (or, much to the company’s chagrin, Nissan Altimas and Chevrolet Malibus).
It may not look like much, but the Transit Connect offers quite a bit more room and more fuel efficiency, thanks to its compressed natural gas or propane tank behind the passenger seat. CNG is less expensive and burns cleaner than gasoline, emitting 30 to 40 percent less greenhouse gases. [Read rest of article]