April 26, 2007
Cabbie is first to go green
Exclusive By Helen Thomas
A TAXI driver is helping the environment and saving money by becoming one of the first in west Wiltshire to use a cab that runs on both electricity and petrol.
Mike Brigham, of Hazel Grove, Trowbridge, who works for Ashley Cars, has started using his Toyota Prius, which combines low carbon emission and high fuel economy. The hybrid car can run on the engine, the batteries or a combination of both, depending on the conditions.
It means the driver can pull off without using any fuel and the car does not use up petrol while waiting in traffic.
Mr Brigham said: "It's not like a milk float or anything like that. It's hybrid and performs just like any normal car. People are amazed when I can drive off just using electricity.
"Most taxi drivers round here deal with local town work. Just today I've taken three people from the railway station to Virgin Mobile and Vodafone and wasn't able to go more than about 20mph so I didn't use any fuel.
"It's estimated it does 65-70 miles to the gallon which is better than my diesel car." He is now thinking of starting his own taxi company called Go Green Cabs.
"There are people who couldn't care less if they were taken home in a horse and cart as long as they got home but there are others who are very interested in how they travel and consider the effects on the environment. People want to feel they are doing something," said Mr Brigham.
Another benefit of the car is that road tax is cheap, at just £30 a year, while the car is also exempt from the London congestion charge because of its low emissions.
"They've caught on in London but I think it would be one of the first around here. I took it to the taxi place for an inspection and everyone was out looking at it. They think it's great," he said.
"I think lots of other taxi drivers will seriously consider it. On average taxi drivers pay £200 a week on fuel but I'm only spending £100."
Mr Brigham bought the car from Platinum Toyota, in Trowbridge, and said the model is no more expensive than similar cars.
"They were more than helpful and let me borrow it for two days to see how I got on. I was really impressed with the technology. It can park automatically. If you press a button it will reverse into a parking space," he said.
Paul Gainey, from the Environment Agency, said the Toyota Prius was a car the agency recommended to people working for them to try and reduce carbon emissions.
Filed under Blog by admin
