Yellow Cab Company Goes Green
3 March 1999
Yellow Cab Company Goes GreenClean-Burning Natural Gas-Powered Hondas to Comprise One Third of Taxicab Fleet BLOOMFIELD, Conn., March 3 -- The Yellow Cab Company of Bloomfield, Conn., has gone green with its purchase of 31 Honda Civic GXs, powered by clean-burning compressed natural gas (CNG). The 100-year-old taxicab company began its move to become more environmentally friendly in October 1998 when it purchased six GXs from Manchester Honda in Manchester, Conn. Following a positive response from drivers and passengers, the taxi service decided to add 25 more natural gas-powered Civics. With this purchase, one-third of the company's total fleet is now comprised of alternative fuel vehicles. The decision to purchase environmentally-sensitive vehicles was prompted by the concern of the 10-year-old daughter of Marco Henry, president and CEO of Yellow Cab Company, which serves customers in the Hartford area and Bradley International Airport. "My daughter, Chantal, was right when she said that we all need to do our part to save the environment," said Henry. "So, I became determined to find a way for my company to help and when I learned that these 31 Civic GX vehicles combined emit fewer pollutants than one gasoline-powered taxicab, it was clear they were the perfect solution." The Honda Civic GX, a dedicated natural gas vehicle, has the lowest emissions of any internal combustion engine vehicle ever tested by the government. "These Civics are not only better for the environment, but they also provide reduced operational costs and greater fuel economy than the cabs they replaced," said Craig Peters, assistant sales manager and administrator of natural gas vehicle sales at Manchester Honda. The local utility, Connecticut Natural Gas, is providing the fuel infrastructure, and the Capital Clean Cities Coalition was instrumental in coordinating the alternative-fuel vehicle purchase. The Civic GX, assembled in East Liberty, Ohio, features four-passenger seating, air conditioning, power windows and door locks.