Green cabs taking a hit as fuel prices drop
Print Edition
THE operators of “green taxis” are demanding preferential policies from authorities to promote gas-powered vehicles as the drop in fuel prices has significantly run down its advantage.
Shanghai has around 3,000 environment friendly taxis, or “green taxis,” that use both gas and petrol as fuel. Compared to traditional taxis that run on petrol, the green cabs cut emission by about two-thirds. Drivers were also keen on driving green cabs as gas was cheaper than petrol, but the continuous drop in oil prices has dampened that enthusiasm.
Ni Zhixin, the general manager of Shanghai Rongcheng Taxi Co which bought 150 green taxis in 2012, said drivers were initially enthusiastic as they could save about 1,000 yuan in fuel costs every month. However, the drop in oil prices since last year has narrowed the difference. Ni said green cab drivers were spending the same amount of money on fuel compared to petrol-driven cabs.
Ni told Xinmin Evening News that some of the green cab drivers wanted to switch to traditional cabs as there were very few petrol stations that supply gas in the city.
Ni said the company had planned to convert its 350 petrol-powered taxis into green cabs but was forced to drop the plan in the current situation. The green vehicles also costs 10,000 yuan more than traditional cars.
Ni is urging authorities to introduce preferential policies or give subsidies to companies that use green energy vehicles. There should be a price difference between gas and petrol to promote the use of environmentally friendly car models, Ni said.
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