Chicagoans who would prefer to scoot around town in the back seat of an environmentally-friendly taxi may want to take a peek at one companys decision to test a dozen vehicles that have been converted to run on compressed natural gas (CNG).
In March, Ford Motor Co. will deliver 12 converted Transit Connect commercial vans to Taxi Medallion Management. The company will integrate the cars into its fleet of taxis, which include gas-guzzling Crown Victoria sedans, and test them over a period of time to determine if the company wants to bring in more CNG vehicles.
Not only will the CNG Transit Connects emit 30 percent to 40 percent less greenhouse gasses, but the cars will be less expensive to refuel.
Natural gas vehicles are being slowly phased in and tested in large cities around the country with infrastructures that support natural gas refueling, including Los Angeles, Chicago, New York and Philadelphia.
Sources
Truck Trend, Ford Introducing 12 CNG Transit Connect Taxis to Chicago.
