Need a cab? Hail a Honda Hybrid

By Matt Brogan | July 21st, 2009

Victorian taxi driver Sandeep Singh, has introduced the first Honda Civic Hybrid taxi to Melbourne roads.

A taxi operator for seven years, Mr. Singh’s decision to introduce a hybrid car is part of his ongoing efforts to become more environmentally conscious.

“I welcome any opportunity to make a more positive contribution to the environment, and recognised the potential of a hybrid car as a chance to reduce my carbon emissions,” said Mr. Singh.

“I expect more and more taxi owners will consider introducing hybrid cars in the future, as they look to take advantage of the greater fuel economy and environmental benefits offered by these vehicles.”

“The feedback from fellow motorists and taxi owners has been very positive, with many commending the move towards greener options.

Mr. Singh said he decided on a Civic Hybrid after also considering the competition but decided the design and fuel efficiency of the Honda was better suited to the role.

“As well as being a trusted brand, Honda’s hybrid vehicle offers a much more attractive shape and interior, which is appealing to both customers and drivers,” concluded Mr. Singh.

Sam, the original

We recently held a taxi owners/operators convention in Cairns. It wouldn’t surprise me if the fleet of Prii (Priuses?) here in Cairns caught the attention of many. Good luck to him with his Honda Hybrid, it should be a great car, its still a Honda after all.
Steven

Perhaps if the government reduce their ridiculous licence fees and rip off taxi fares then there could be some genuine choice amongst taxi companies.

These are not that much more economical than a good turbo diesel.

How about a Hyundai i30 wagon as a taxi?
Steven

Oh and why do taxi companies insist on a sedan? They are crap when it comes to putting in a suitcase. We struggled to put in 2 in a Falcon so a Civic is a poor choice.

Please, wegons and hatchbacks for taxis, not sedans. Unless it’s a jaunt to the city (another ripoff) I take a wagon as there are no hatches.
billy_bob_119

Why carn’t taxi drivers stick to buying australian cars. FORDS AND HOLDENS do a much better job as a taxi pluse the money keeps Australian workers in a job and keeps the money in Australia.
FrugalOne

250,000km this FWD will be junk.\

A haonda civic is way to light duty for this application, maybe he should have waited till the Camry hybrid comes out in Feb?

They have tried heavier FWD Avalon’s as taxis and they could not take the constant [mis]use and pounding and fell to bits.

The only car that seems to hack it and last is the Falcon, cheaper to buy/run/own than a hybrid would ever be.

Kudo’s for trying and dreaming green, but not a $mart move really, he will get bitten from this.

PS/ Green my rase, LPG is the cleanest fuel you can buy/use!

Cheers

F-0
laurie

Of course Taxi companies will pass on the saving to us……… and pigs will fly and I mean the pink ones!!

laurie
Indoo

A lot of the front-wheel drive taxi sedans dont seem to last as long as the heavy duty Falcon. I also agree that all Taxis should be wagons, once their LPG tank is in the boot most taxis have hardly any room left for suitcases.
Alex

billy_bob_119, please explain. I would like to know how you come to the conclusion that Falcons and Commodores make better taxis. Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane – big congested cities full of stop start taxis and most have either the 3.6 V6 out of a Commodore or the 4.0 V6 out of a Falcon and it’s so unnecessary. This will save the driver on fuel; it’s not all about keeping the money in Australia. In fact it has nothing to do with that; they have as much choice as you or I.
SamR

FrugalOne and Indoo

Wasn’t there a story here about Prius taxi’s in Cairns? They are lasting very well with huge mileage and significant fuel savings. The savings may easily pay for earlier car replacement if needed compared to a Falcon.
Andrew M

The biggest concern will be the cost to repair and maintain.
Falcon parts are a dime a dozen if something does go wrong, and the economics of LPG matches Hybrid
Captain Mainwaring

Why a Civic Hybrid? If he’s a Honda nut a much better taxi would be a Honda City. Much lower purchase cost, very similar fuel consumption, more room in the interior and the boot’s twice as big. Also, the back seats fold down. It’s a no-brainer.
Howie-R31

Alex,
Just a bit of info for ya. Falcons don’t have V6′s
Andrew M

Its all about image with the hybrids though Captain.

Logic and reason goes out the window when you want to be green
Captain Mainwaring

Couldn’t have said it better myself, Andrew M.
Thanks.
Hjalle

He said that the Honda offers a more attractive shape but when people think Hybrid we all think Prius. So it would be making more of a statement ‘that im green’ in a Prius becuase we all know it is a hybrid but petrol and hybrid Civics basically look the same, i tell them apart from the rims. So if this is what i do and im a car nut then, what are majority of the public going to think?? My bet is normal petrol. I think it would be better to have bought a Prius, its what i would of done. Bigger greener statement and its a hatch
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His reasons for using a hybrid sounds great. It would definitely help our environment. I just wonder why he decided to use a Honda…
realcars

Falcons make great cabs because they go forever.Agree.
DesignEng©™

Question:
What happens when a Hybrid is parked with the airconditioning on?

I know a taxi operator who complains that his drivers use too much LPG because they sit at the ranks with the engine running for the aircon.

Does a petrol/electic hybrid just be sit there burning expensive petrol, or does the aircon work from an electric source until it drops to a certain charge level?
AAA

Isn’t the Civic too small as a taxi?
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The other reason why so many choose the Falcon as a Taxi is also because it has the most rear leg room! If I had to choose between a taxi Civic or a taxi Falcon, I would choose the Falcon everytime. Who cares if it saves the enviroment or the taxi driver’s wallet, I want confort and easy door entry access!
Ben Larden

It’s just not ‘built Ford tough’
Krusty

The concentration of taxi driver body odour will be of a higher ppm amount in the Civic due to less air volume within the cab……….Falcon wins!
laurie

No one has mentioned battery replacement cost

laurie
arlester

@DesignEng

The Civic runs the aircon from the electric source until the power level drops too far. But more importantly the civics hybrid system works in the way that the car has to be stationary with the brake pedal pushed in for it to only run on electric power. As soon as you take your foot off of the brake it starts the petrol motor back up. What does this mean when he is sitting waiting for a fare? Does he have to have it in Drive or Nuetral with his foot on the brake.

I drive one of these everyday as a work car (Honda Dealership). But I havent yet tested it to see if you can take your foot off the brake in neutral without it starting back up. can anyone shed some light on this…
NYS

Plenty of Prius Taxis up here in Darwin as well.
crouchy

Its not just the purchase of the car.. its the servicing and repairs. Im sure jo blogs round the corner wont be able to service a fleet of hybrid civics like he can a commodore or a falcon.

I think this is dissapointing for the local car industry.

Come on! Stick with what you know and what keeps thousands of people in jobs in this country!
crouchy

oh and wtf happened to the new ‘karma’ comments system???
Golfschwein

Crouchy, I suspect one or two bloggers had access to multiple computers and/or IP addresses and routinely marked his own comments up by a handy 5 or 6 and did the opposite with the people he hated. In the end, it was less of a karma system, more of a bullying system.
BlueMan

Golfy, so the ratings system’s dead then? I always said it was going to be open to abuse by those inclined that way.
BlueMan

So CA, does this mean we get the registered user / guest system that we’ve all been wanting?
Alborz said that was the next step if the ratings didn’t work, and they haven’t.
Brett

I’d say a car like a Honda Civic will be expensive to maintain. They don’t even use Commodores because they are more expensive to run/maintain than Falcons (at least in Sydney). It will be interesting to see how well this car does over 550,000klm and if it is still running the original batteries, engine and gearbox.
Floyd

I’d like to see a Ford Fiesta used as a inner city / suburb cab and also a Holden Cruze.
A majority of the time taxi run with out luggage and with just one or two customers.
These smaller more efficient Australian based manufacturer cars would ideal IMO.
The Realist

billy_bob_119 Says:
July 21st, 2009 at 3:36 pm
“Why carn’t taxi drivers stick to buying australian cars. FORDS AND HOLDENS do a much better job as a taxi pluse the money keeps Australian workers in a job and keeps the money in Australia.”

I agree mate. Ford and Holden contribute more to this country than minerals, oil and gas, and agriculture combined. I bet the government would rather collect the vast tax royalties Holden provides than say a BHP Billiton.
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Nice idea if it could be implemented gradually to reduce fumes downtown. Smaller cabs would probably work better for inner city. Just thinking of travelling with luggage, not always easy to fit multiple suitcases in a honda. Still, it’s a good start.

Bob Black,
dubai car hire
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Carl

What a fool and a poser, an lpg falcon makes so much more sense for this application.
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Good to see that car on the road the most, like taxis, are doing something for the environment. car removal melbourne
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Nice colour roof. Is it me, or does anyone else think that the green roof says it all about hybrid.
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Great promotion on Hybrids for Taxi’s. Well done promoting the green future.
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I wonder if this will impact on Taxi fares?
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I like the post. Good to see the taxi industry are doing something green. Think our pollies could take the lead.
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Would be good to see more pollies being driven around in these. Coming back from the airport, I passed at least 5 huge Holdens belting out smoke.
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The trouble we’re facing in Sydney at the moment is that our electricity prices are so damn high that hybrid users aren’t making much of a saving over tradition petrol engines.