By BELINDA FEEK belinda.feek@wanganuichronicle.co.nz
WANGANUI couple Bob and Rhondda Anderson has scored a first in the world of eco-taxis.
The couple, owners of River City Cabs, are the first eco-fleet of taxis in New Zealand to run by the revolutionary Toyota hybrid technology.
Mr Anderson checked with the NZ Taxi Federation, Toyota New
Zealand and Land Transport New Zealand to confirm their coup.
Although the couple launched its new fleet yesterday, the cabs were on the streets at the weekend to the delight of passengers.
Mr and Mrs Anderson, with assistance from Wanganui Toyota, currently have six of the Toyota Prius range in its fleet, with two more arriving shortly.
The Prius can run on either its highly-efficient low-emission 1.5-litre petrol engine, its electric motor, or a combination of both.
The couple look to save about $25,000 to $30,000, or two-thirds, on annual fuel costs.
Wanganui Toyota sales consultant Gary Armstrong said the car used battery power for most travel around town. When stopped at traffic lights, the engine automatically cut out eliminating excess petrol consumption and exhaust emissions.
Emissions were nearly 90 percent less than those from a car of similar size powered by a petrol engine. Prius was the only car in the market in New Zealand to operate so efficiently.
Mr Anderson said the couple was always thinking of ways to work economically, as their last fleet of cars were all diesel. He had also built a refinery in his garage after exploring using cooking oil ? which worked a treat. Mrs Anderson was so impressed by the car she amazed herself, and her friends, by selling her beloved Holden VX 3.8 supercharge car.
"I almost cried when it did it. I never thought I would part with it. But I don't regret ? They're wicked to drive." A return trip to Auckland then Palmerston North saw her Prius use just over a tank of gas ? an incredible difference from her last car.
Cab owner/driver Greg Ives said he received "excellent feedback" after using the vehicle at the weekend. "Everyone is commenting, there's no two ways about it. They love the comfort and it's so quiet. You don't even hear them start up. There's no starter motor, just a switch."
Mrs Anderson said the cars appealed to a lot of elderly people as they were easier to manoeuvre in.
Dylan "Brooksy" Brooks, the Anderson's son, was stoked to be driving around in a 2003 Prius ? a bit of a step up on his last car. "A Maori boy driving a 2003 car?," he joked, "now that's impressive."
