The Nissan NV200 will have a rooftop view and a phone-charging station, but is not wheelchair accessible
The city’s Taxi and Limousine Commission gave a green light Thursday morning to controversial “Taxi of Tomorrow.”
In a 5-2 vote, the TLC, as expected, adopted rules mandating all but a small percentage of cabs now on the road be replaced with Nissan NV200s.
The model, designed with much input from TLC staffers, will include a charging station for electronic gadgets, a retractable step for easier boarding and exiting, and a see-through roof panel for an upward view of the city.
“I think this is a huge leap forward in terms of passenger experience,” commission Chairman David Yassky said.
But the NV200 is not wheelchair accessible and will not be manufactured in the United States — sticking points critics view as two major shortcomings.
“When you talk about tomorrow…tomorrow should include people with mobility impairments,” United Spinal Association Senior Vice President James Weisman said.
“We are all aging and we’re going to live longer than any generation that’s ever preceded us, and work longer than any generation that’s ever preceded us. We need an accessible environment.”
TLC officials say there are more than 200 wheelchair accessible taxis already that can be dispatched to the disabled upon request, and they are working to add another 2,000 to the mix.
That expansion plan, however, has been stalled due to a lawsuit filed by fleet owners because a provision would allow livery-car drivers to pick up street hails in northern Manhattan and the other boroughs, excluding airports.
The owners of the 13,237 cabs that now comprise the yellow fleet will have to be replaced with NV200s when their current taxis are retired, under a long-standing replacement schedule set by the TLC to ensure cabbies don’t operate clunkers.
The phase-in is expected to begin next fall and take about five years.
The TLC has exempted 1,000 owners from the rules adopted Thursday, including hundreds who purchased medallions requiring they operate hybrid or handicapped-accessible vehicles.
By Pete Donohue / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
We whether like it or not, Taxi of Tomorrow is in drivers and passenger’s judgements. Fuel efficiency in city traffic should be at least 35 MPG, not less than the current hybrid’s taxis! Any additional wishes before goes into full assemblies, because we’re the cabdrivers will drive it every day?
Weekly driver , I agreed with you. how the hell they give up the hybrid on one hand and want to go green on the other. this should be fully electirc instead of buring gas. and Julie pinovr should feel the taxi driver’s frustration on the city and TLC policy making.
Didn’t I read on this site that Ron Sherman suid the city over the force of the Taxi of Tomorrow Nissan NV200, and only agreed to drop the suit when the city agreed he could place Fords in service, saying something like the Sherman garage had used Fords as taxis for 80 years and why stop now. I thought I read that the city agreed Sherman could place Fords in service, despite the Taxi of Tomorrow? True or not True?
Which Ford would Sherman use? The Transit Connect might be okay if the idle RPMs were reduced from 750 to 600-650 for fuel efficiency, if the screaming lawnmower blower to the back seat were soundless, if gear shifting handles were smooth and fluid. LOL Of course the Transit Connect would be greatly enhanced if driver & rider had legs & feet room, so riders didn’t have to twist their legs so their feet could fit! LOL
Ford Transit is a low rider and passengers can back into the sit and be sitting on it, easy to get in and out. Ford might make the sliding doors stronger and more fluid. LOL Wouldn’t want them to fall off in the street! How many side marker bulbs need to be changed? 100?
Good, though, that oil change takes 4 quarts and can be done in the front without jacking it up. Also good, headlights don’t keep springing on and off.
A mixed bag. But now that Taxi of Tomorrow NV 200 has been chosen, how about this site posting the maintenance specifications? 1.8 engine? tire size? oil capacity? Some comments on the Ford vs the Nissan or Toyota is that the foreign replacement parts cost a fortune, much more.
Regardless of the fuel efficiency and gas mileage the NV200 is supposed to produce, elevating from 24 mpg to 28 mpg, it will be surprising if this heavy weighted van can achieve the 28 mpg in NYC driving. Hauling this weight, hmmmm. And is this NV200 going to cost $44,000 each, with all the bells & whistles the consumers didn’t need or want, unless asked?
With all the windshield & roof glass, the heat in the summer is going to be astounding. What is the mileage per gallon with the A/C on? 13?
TLC SHOULD CHECK WITH GRACE, BECAUSE GARAGE DOES NOT FIX ANY PROBLEMS. ALSO GARAGE ROB MONEY FROM THE DRIVER.
Weren’t there only CVs five years ago, but various hybrids started being introduced? I’m trying to remember. So maybe same senario can unfold ten years later? Some merits in custom built cab but since NV 200 has some major drawbacks, I wish other options coexist for owners n drivers. It is more expensive to maintain for owners n to fill the tank for drivers.
13,000 cabs 24 hrs polluting air for all. No second hand smoking in outdoor pubic park but it’s ok to inhale car exhaust worse than that all over NYC. Ignorance is not bliss, it gives long term consequence. Bikes in green lane (not so! It should be blue), next to fuming yellow. How can NYC explain this inconsistent policy? Longer battery life at the cost of health not demanding hybrid. USB charging port, big deal, many nonCV have it n it’s easy to install during hack up along with roof light n partition with AC switch.
Learning some political lessons in hard way.
What makes taxi of tommorow different from Toyota Siena, which has been in service for almost 10 years? Sunroof? Swarovsky crystals cost less than that $10,000 easy to break peace of glass (Siena costs only $30,000). New yorkers rarely look up, they are more concerned about not getting stocked in traffic, and guess what, they all start complaining is that sun is right above their head and can we shade sunroof all, because it’s too uncomfortable inside. Vans are inconvinient to drive, there are just too many blind spots, rookie drivers will have far more accidents when compared to sedans, you are in straight up posture, you’ll get tiered more easily, sliding doors are harder to fix, and they never close perfectly after the accident. Vans are more noisy, they are not aerodinamic, less maneuvarable, and where will they put roof advertisement? Taxi of tommorow will be taxi of yesterday in few years, it will prove to be too unpractical.
Let it come, and see. This car with 4 cylinders will shrink into pieces. Garages will have to change it every year. No company can replace Ford Crown Vic. Nissan cant wait for five years for the car to retire… insurance will sell its premium for up 2 years only for this car as a taxi.
They planed for this long time.
4 cylinder engines are too weak for taxis . Cabs are in constant acceleration mode . Stop and go traffic puts too much stress on the engine .To compensate for the less power, engines will rev at higher RPM, increasing wear and tear and polution . Small engine Hondas turned out to be a nightmare for the owners. Only original parts worked, everything had to be ordered from the dealer , sometimes you had to wait for weeks before getting your parts .
Is this vehicle so popular, every taxi company and cabdrivers want it, because fuel savings and giveaways? Why regulators aren’t focusing on how keep riders in time with their transportation needs, to ease-up traffic, do they, or keep cabdrivers off from the “express” lanes? It doesn’t matter what kind of taxicab, whether we will drive the taxi of Tomorrow or a Checker cab or Ford, if aren’t time and fuel efficient. Riders and most new yorkers know, taking cabs aren’t the best choices anymore. It’s time-consuming and costly in these hard economic times.
Could the passenger/s open the window at the sliding doors? If not, then riders will sweat, when the engine gets overheated in the complete traffic congestion and in the steamy hot days.
Taxi of tomorrow needs a driver of tomorrow. Each one will hold a degree in psychology, therapeutic sessions will last one hour and cost between $200-500 depending on severity of the case. Anyone with depression, suisidal mood, over agressive will get a proper medical treatment, 90% can easily be qualified. Payments can be made by major medical and medicare. Antidepressants, such as Zenex, can be adminestered on board. Rides by appintment only!
i cant be a taxidriver without driving crown vic..i loooooove the vic.we need it back .
CCC thanks to new APPs we’ll all start getting less street fares . Choose your corners like prostitutes and wait for the signal !
CCC, Im 100% with u. Hacked-up Mercedez or even Cadillac would be bad taxis, if they r sitting in the traffic even worse pulled over n getting tickets with passengers inside. I lost words to describe current stupidity for road transportation. Just one example of nonsense by the NYC who posts NO TURN ON RED in Manhattan n gets away for many years, now a small sign for bike, [ bike icon + stop here on red ] on 17 St n 9 Ave. So bike can zip through crosswalk n bike path used for two ways (collision potential), then it should stop there like cars (one in 1,000). I like to stand there one hour with video camera n upload it in YouTube. I wouldn’t preach orthodox rule that bike should follow all traffic rules made for cars. But sensible n practical mvmt is slow down with red lights n stop signs, N yield to all N proceed with caution n GUILT.
Not bikers who don’t own cars, Not Rental Zip cars, or pedicabs taking up lanes, but Zippppping taxis move the City saving time n money, good for economy n environment for all.
11th year of Mayor B ( bird brain is compliment for his transportation policy while brilliant in business n tourism, he is top ten as wealthy men in US)
One more year to go. Hang in there.
I think this is a story that is far from over. Too many people object to this for many different reasons. It will be interesting to see how this plays out. If these cars ever hit the streets and it is shown that it was a big mistake, the lawsuits will be all over the place. It won’t be too long before those who approved the deal will be out of office.
Those who replace them may not be as enthusiastic about these cars. Also, none of the taxi owners approved or signed this contract. So, there is no way they can be sued if the deal isn’t kept by the city…..I can’t imagine this will go on for the full 10 years..That’s much too long and there will be many innovations and reasons to break the deal.
This BS is Almost Like I Want NYC to Have No Potholes !!! How can NYC force an Almost Non Funded Industry to ” BUY THIS / BUY THAT ” …I mean New Cameras / Meters / New Stickers / NEW CARS EVERY …3 / 5 Years !!! And FINE us for EVERY so called infraction !!! Oh I forgot Its to Raise CASH !!! I Imagine NOW that NYC lost Cash on the OUTERBoro / Medallion Sales there WILL BE AN ORDER FROM MR B ….Ticket Quotas Have to GO UP on TAXIS !!!!…Carefull GUYS TLC is Out SAT / SUN now…..Phuckers
Roads, some just like dirt-roads filled with potholes are forgotten and we all know that, and take long time just like fixing the bridges. Taxis and other motor vehicles are breaks and wearing-down much faster because of that. What happens to the cabdrivers and vehicle’ owners, with these unpredictable expenses to repair and replace their vehicles? Why Taxi of Tomorrow cabs have to be expensive to purchase? For potholed highways and streets or off-roads, instead have smooth drive roads and avenues?