Creating a Sustainable Transportation & Energy Vision for the 21^st Century

www.AltWheels.org

JOHN W. MOORE

AltWheels Regional Hero: Helping to make Boston taxicabs

more energy efficient

John Moore of Boston CleanAir Cabs, poses with a cab

during last year’s AltWheels Festival

on Boston’s City Hall Plaza.

· Home: Cambridge, MA

· Current role: Founder, Boston CleanAir Cabs; a “green” architect

· Greening work: In his all-volunteer role with Boston CleanAir Cabs, John has established a coalition of public agencies working together to create incentives to help Boston taxi owners convert their older cabs to hybrid or alternative-fuel vehicles. He has also reached out to the private cab industry and involved local cab owners in the process. The program began in late 2006, and there are currently 23 CleanAir Cabs on the road. His goal is to convert at least 10 percent of Boston’s 1,800 cabs by the end of 2008.

· Current project: John is working to replicate the CleanAir Cab concept in other cities, including Cambridge, Somerville, and Providence, RI. He is also involved in the design and construction of a LEED-certified YMCA building on Martha’s Vineyard. (LEED refers to the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Green Building Rating System.)

· Inspiration: "I am most inspired by the other participants in this coalition -- the Boston Public Health Commission, the Boston Mayor's Environment Department, the Hackney Division of the Boston Police Department, and Massport -- for their enthusiasm and support of the program.  In addition, I am thankful to Boston Cab Association for making the initial investment in their hybrid vehicles.”

· Impact of work: Over a five-year period, converting one cab to a hybrid vehicle saves 300,000 to 500,000 pounds of CO2 emissions and 15,000 to 25,000 gallons of gasoline. Hybrids are 60 to 70 percent more efficient than the traditional, older-model Boston cabs.

Economics of work: Boston CleanAir Cabs is designed to create incentives for both the drivers, who pay the gasoline costs, and the owners, who are the purchasers of the vehicles. A major incentive for drivers is the fuel-cost savings of $20 to $30 per shift that they can achieve with a hybrid. As an additional incentive for drivers, Massport has agreed to allow CleanAir Cabs “front of the line” privileges at Logan Airport, saving drivers an average of 45 minutes to one hour of airport waiting time per run. The economic incentive for cab owners is achieved through the Boston Police Department’s Hackney Division, which has agreed to allow higher lease rates for their CleanAir Cab vehicles, effectively allowing the owners to share in the fuel savings with the drivers.

· Useful websites: www.bphc.org/bphc/cleanaircabs.asp

· Recommended information resources: www.thebostonchannel.com/money/12931665/detail.html?rss=bos&psp=news; www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2006/10/01/hey_cabbies_follow_that_hybrid/; Boston Police Department’s Hackney Divison, 617-343-4475; Boston Public Health Commission, 617-534-5395.