Paul Gillespie waits for a fare in San Francisco in his Ford Escape hybrid taxi. The city’s first hybrid taxis -- all Escapes -- were introduced in 2005. Today, 14% of the city’s 1,438 taxis are hybrids. (Robert Durell / For The Times)
The city’s first 15 hybrid taxis have made it to the 300,000-mile mark and are being retired. Their longevity shows that hybrid technology is more durable than previously imagined; they also have saved cab drivers about $9,000 a year. (Robert Durell / For The Times)
I was desperate to find a vehicle that would save drivers fuel costs and save greenhouse gas emissions,” said Gillespie, a proponent of environmentally-friendly cabs. (Robert Durell / For The Times)
With the Escapes retiring, Yellow Cab is awaiting the arrival of 10 new Ford Fusion sedans, which promise even higher mileage than the Escapes. (Robert Durell / For The Times)
