Source: Ford Introduces Two New Fuel-Efficient Taxis; Hybrid and Diesel Versions Give Operators More Choice, Potential Savings | Ford Media Center New 2019 Transit Connect Taxi Transit Connect Taxi, when equipped with available 1.5-liter EcoBlue® diesel engine, is targeted to return an EPA-estimated Highway rating of at least 30 mpg. Actual mileage will vary. Final EPA-estimated ratings available early 2019. The Transit Connect Taxi offers seating for five with a roomy, flexible interior well-suited for livery service. It features more than 60 cubic-feet cargo volume behind the second row, more than the Nissan NV200 Taxi. . . . First-ever Fusion Hybrid Taxi The first-ever Fusion Hybrid Taxi shares parts with the Ford Police Responder Hybrid for improved durability in a livery duty cycle (police vehicles come with many heavy-duty chassis parts, like wheels and suspension). For Fusion Hybrid Taxi, Ford is projecting EPA-estimated rating comparable to that of the Ford Police Responder Hybrid (projected EPA-estimated ratings of 40 mpg City/36 mpg Highway/38 mpg Combined). Actual mileage will vary. Ford does not get the credit earned for solid performance year after year. Bob Wilson
diesel taxi's are verboten in some cities, and a sedan taxi is really antiquated. ford desperately needs a new hybrid crossover.
Toyota walking away from the taxi and potentially small utility van market the Prius v could fill is dumber. But I agree that a CMAX hybrid would also be a nice taxi. Bob Wilson
CMAX is too small to be a good taxi IMNSHO. Trunk space to and from an airport with baggage for a two week trip overseas? The overall transit MPG is not that much different than a Rav4h. I saw v taxis everywhere I went in Europe. And in lots of US cities. I would have thought that market alone would have sustained a limited production, though maybe not in a high tariff environment. So maybe Toyota was lucky they started pulling back.
would be interesting to know taxi vs rental profits. then again, the taxi may be the covered wagon of the uber era.
The Escape PHEV is due next year. A hybrid only version should be easy to do, even if just for commercial sales. The C-Max hybrid is already gone. The Transit Connect has a massive cargo space advantage over the Rav4; 60cu.ft. vs 38 cu.ft., and the hybrid might have less. Wheelchair accommodation is possible with it through Ford. Then the rear passenger access is likely better in the TC.
Calculate the gas cost difference over 300k miles typical of a taxi. While it might make sense for a traditional taxi company to have some Transits for the family to the airport or meeting ending rush out of a convention crowd, how many of those are there to compensate for the 1-2 passengers to the restaurant/doctors/etc trips? I have seen transits, one parked next to me the other day was in a 11 passenger configuration. I'm all for using them in typical late night bus runs but for maneuvering around a crowded city?
Hang on, there's a difference between the Transit and the Transit Connect. Transit Connect taxi Transit passenger van.
The Prius v is still for sale in Canada too. Toyota Canada - Cars, Pickup Trucks, SUVs, Hybrids and Crossovers
Around here, some of the cabbies use the Prius v and the older Chrysler Pacifica. Maybe they'll just switch over to the Pacifica hybrid.
The Transit 250 is the larger cargo version. I was behind one today. Fuelly lists the average for the transit connect between 20 and 22 MPG depending on the model year, Huge difference from the v. Why not keep one taxi version available in the US if the Canadians are getting them? (Where they are made tariffs, I know. But they didn't know about them when they made the decision.)
Here in Norway they do, Prius V is the most famous choice for taxi here, the taxi package includes 3 yr/300 000 km warranty (versus the 5 yr/150 000km warranty on normal purchases), rubber mat flooring across the whole car and pre set up for the taxi equipment.
