Multi-modal transport operator SMRT Corporation will be bringing in over 600 Prius Hybrid taxis into Singapore over the next year and residents will start seeing the eco-friendly vehicles plying the road starting Friday.
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This means commuters can opt for a mode of transport with a reduced carbon footprint as the fuel-efficient Prius runs on both fuel and electric power.
SMRT is one of about seven taxi companies in Singapore and with their new line of fuel-electric cabs, accounting for one-fifth of its total number of taxis, it is now the largest Prius Hybrid fleet owner in the country.
The Prius Hybrid taxi has a flag down rate of S$3.80, same with the recently increased rate of their Azera CNG (compressed natural gas) taxis, but higher compared to the Crown (S$3) and Epica (S$3.40) models.
Unlike the two gas-guzzling cars, the hybrid model has greater fuel efficiency due to an enhanced engine range with exhaust gas recirculation and an electric-powered water pump.
This leads to fuel savings that SMRT’s taxi partners will benefit from, said Benny Lim, senior vice president of SMRT Roads.
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This new hybrid taxi is environmentally friendly and provides a smoother ride, and the interiors are also more comfortable and there will be fuel savings
Tan Wee Liang, taxi driver
The Prius Hybrid also has a parking ventilation system that uses solar energy through its solar paneled-roof to power the vehicle’s fan, making air circulate inside while it is stationary, such as in cases when taxi drivers are waiting for passengers.
Lim said that offering these eco-friendly partially electric vehicles is “a conscious move” from the firm to become more sustainable.
Aside from reducing environmental impact, there is an improved well-being factor with the taxi’s quieter and more stable ride.
The Prius Hybrid features enhanced seating comfort, knee airbags and active headrests to prevent driver whiplash, a common neck and shoulder injury caused by hit-from-behind accidents.
Tan Wee Liang, who has been driving taxis for eight years and recently made a switch to the eco-model, said: “This new hybrid taxi is environmentally friendly and provides a smoother ride, and the interiors are also more comfortable and there will be fuel savings.”
According to SMRT, they will be launching a “Ride-A-Prius Cab” programme next month to reward commuters who opt for the new Prius Hybrid taxis.
A mobile application, currently in the works, will also allow users to select this green transport option by the end of the year.
Lai Kwong Meng, another long-time taxi driver, emphasised the fuel savings of the Prius Hybrid. He said, “This is great news for us especially since fuel prices are always on the rise.”
Singapore plans to reduce its dependency on fuel and the amount of emissions it releases into the atmosphere, according to the National Climate Change Secretariat. The government has a Land Transport Masterplan that encourages the use of public transport by 2020.
