Ten hybrid taxis are to be added to the current taxi fleet in Dubai in January as part of wider plans to create an environment-friendly transport system in Dubai.
The greener vehicles will undergo a trial for one year to assess their efficiency in Dubai’s weather conditions and their advantage over conventional taxis, the Roads and Transport Agency (RTA) announced yesterday.
If successful, it will pave the way for a future increase in the number of hybrid taxis and the introduction of hybrid buses, the first initiative of its kind in the region.
International car manufacturer General Motors (GM) will begin delivery of the 10 vehicles this month under an deal signed with the RTA yesterday at the Dubai Motor Show. The vehicles include five Chevrolet Tahoe cars equipped with a two-mode hybrid engine and five Chevrolet Malibus.
Hybrid taxis use two devices for vehicle propulsion – a battery that is continuously charged by a clean fuel engine.
The two power sources operate alternately and thus minimise the amount of fuel burnt by the engine.
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