A Saturn VUE Green Line recently was put into service as a taxi in New York City.This is the first GM vehicle to be approved by the NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission since 1996 when GM discontinued the rear wheel drive Caprice. GM's goal is to show other taxi operators that the VUE Green Line is an affordable hybrid taxi vehicle. The VUE Hybrid vehicle , now in service, has received very favorable comments from the driver and customers, according to owner/operator Placida Robinson. The Hybrid VUE has a sunroof and premium stereo system...
It also the lowest priced hybrid SUV on the market—MSRP under $23,000. The VUE Green Line was an attractive fit for Ms. Robinson because it met the Commission's hybrid requirement, was competitively priced (under $23,000 MSRP), and offered excellent cargo capacity. She says that customer reaction has been very positive so far. Riders apparently like the hybrid and have commented that as taxis go, it's one of the nicer ones they've been in.
—Michelle Krebs
—Michelle Krebs
firstwagon says:
10:52 AM, 12/28/06
I've seen quite a few Prius taxis recently and I think it's a great idea. Considing how much time a taxi spends stuck in city traffic waiting at the curb with the motor running, it may well the perfect application for a hybrid. Should be a good durablity test too. Very brave of Saturn.
estreka says:
12:47 PM, 12/28/06
I wonder how those batteries will hold up over such extensive use.
rsholland says:
01:11 PM, 12/28/06
I think use use wil make or break the concept of hybrids. If they prove to be successful under that kind of use, they can make it pretty much anywhere.
drjames says:
11:31 PM, 12/28/06
Considering GM uses parts of Toyota's hybrid synergy drive system under licence in their hybrids such as the Vue, Ford uses it in the Escape, and Nissan will be in the Altima... I'm sure it'll hold up just fine considering as firstwagon mentioned, Prius has been used for a bit now.
jerrywimer says:
07:55 AM, 12/29/06
GM is using something from the HSD in their hybrids? That's the first I've heard of this- the Vue Green Line is a mild hybrid after all, right? And the upcoming full hybrid GMs will be using their own technology from the ground up. On the other hand, I knew Ford was licensing the tech for the Escape, and may've read a rumor about the Altima hybrid doing the same here at some point in time.
drjames says:
12:14 AM, 12/30/06
Yeah jerrywimer, I was confused when I read about the Vue using some HSD parts considering it's not a full hybrid, but perhaps it's the battery, or regenerative braking..... what part(s)(?) I'm don't know, but I know it was brought up recently when Toyota execs addressed whether they'd follow the big 3's suit in offering employee pricing last summer, whereby the Toyota exec gave the following reasons: that they saw no reason to purposely attempt to hurt the domestics, since their sales continued to be strong; felt that as a Japanese company, continued to owe the American companies some sort of reprieve because of the American help in rebuilding Japan post WWII; seeing the domestic survive and improve would force Toyota to improve themselves (healthy competition?); and finally, the continued growth and success of GM and Ford would HELP the bottom line at Toyota because of the use and profits of HSD applied by both GM and Ford.
As for the Altima hybrid, apparently it's official that while they are developing their own Hybrid system, they will be using the HSD mated to their 2.5 L I4.