This is one of the coolest things I’ve seen in a while. I heard a bit about this when I attended a Columbia B-school event where a TLC rep spoke about some of the projects the TLC was working on. This was a specific request for a car design that could actually handle the kind of “get in get out” use that a NYC taxi goes through. It’s a fascinating thing to consider: NYC cabs are not really used like regular cars. They are just regular cars that are painted yellow and given a meter, but they aren’t equipped for efficiently tackling the basic needs of a taxi.
For example, the car ought to be small and maneuverable around the city. It also needs a lot of leg room. (The Crown Victoria is the large car of choice because it has tons of leg room and lasts well into the 100,000 mile range.)
A lot of people ask why the entire fleet isn’t converted to Priuses… the answer (according to taxi drivers/owners) is that a Prius apparently breaks down often and is very expensive to repair, and it’s much smaller inside (which is true) so passengers don’t like it as much. The issue is that neither the Prius nor the Crown Vic were built for NYC streets and 30-40 trips per day. When you’re getting in and out of a cab, seconds count (ever get stuck behind a cab as someone gets in or out?). Traffic depends on it.
I love a lot about this new cab design. First, the front passenger faces the back so they become part of the ride and not the oddball in the front seat. Second, there is clearly a push for accessibility not only for those in a wheelchair but also older folks who have a harder time just jumping into a cab and swinging the door shut in 2 seconds flat. Third, I’m a huge fan of the destination sign and number of available seats - that is a great feature that cannot come soon enough. And Fare/Share will support en route pickups in version 2. Fourth, the sunroof! The roof opens up so you can actually enjoy the NYC skyline like you’re in a limo during prom!
Finally… it’s a fuel cell, electric, solar car with drive by wire! Wow.
In the PDF, the proposal also describes the use of a taxi card that can be topped up online, as well as the ability to hail by phone/internet and locate the nearest taxi. All great concepts.
This may not be the sleekest design (it does sort of look like a box), but it is exactly what NYC needs now more than ever. A new look and feel for taxis that caters to the needs of riders.
We may not have Johnny Cabs (from Total Recall) just yet. But it is 2010. And this is the kind of taxi we should all expect to board.
