Many of my posts have been about alternative vehicles, and yet another article has jumped out at me. This weeks article comes from the Boston Globe: Cab fleet wary of 2015 hybrid law

Boston Mayor Tom Menino recently announced the passing of a bill that will require all licensed taxi cabs in the city to be hybrid vehicles by 2015. The passing of this bill has spurred many lawsuits by city cab companies as they argue that it is unrealistic to expect companies to shell out thousands of dollars for new vehicles as opposed to buying up used police cruisers. They also argue that it is unconstitutional because there are not the same standard for other state fleet vehicles.

Although I agree with the bill that was passed, the cab companies have a legitimate point. They have pointed out a significant double standard. The state government is imposing a regulation that they themselves have no intentions of following. There is a rigid 2015 deadline for private business; however, for the public sector, there is no concrete deadline to switch fleets to hybrids. This state bill only helps to aid what little progress has been made be revamped CAFE standards.