Cab operator ComfortDelGro will roll out the country's most
environmentally-friendly taxis on Wednesday. They will also be the
costliest for cabbies to rent.
The 50 Mercedes-Benz E220 BlueTec taxis use around 4 per cent less
fuel than the last model, and produce less carbon dioxide.
They will be the first cabs here to meet the strictest Euro 6
emission standard - which will only become compulsory for new
diesel vehicles here in 2018.
The new cabs will also be the first to use a urea-based solution
called AdBlue that is injected into the exhaust system to
chemically transform up to 90 per cent of nitrogen oxide into
harmless nitrogen and water vapour.
Fares will be similar to ComfortDelGro's other limousine cabs, with
a flag-down charge of $3.90 and a metered rate of 30 cents for
every 400m up to 10km.
ComfortDelGro is expected to add another 100 of these new cabs,
bringing its total Mercedes fleet size to over 800.
The company owns around 16,800 of the 28,500 taxis plying the roads
here, making it the largest operator.
But the greener drive may be a bumpier one for taxi drivers.
According to sources, the daily cost of rental for the new cab will
start from $175, reputedly the highest in the business.
This works out to about $5,250 a month.
In comparison, the average daily rental for a new saloon taxi falls
in the region of $130, or about $3,900 a month.
For the new Mercedes cabs, drivers will also have to pay for the
AdBlue solution.
The chemical's 251/2-litre tank - located in the recesses of the
trunk - will need to be topped up about once a week, going by a
daily mileage of about 500km.
With one litre costing $1, this translates to an additional $25 a
week for cabbies.
The AdBlue is required as part of the BlueTec technology, which
while using a high combustion temperature to vaporise particulates,
also creates a higher amount of nitrogen oxide.
When the AdBlue tank is empty, drivers will not be able to start
their cars. One cabby, who signed up to drive the new Mercedes taxi
to replace his current one that is being scrapped, says that by
splitting the higher rental with a relief driver, he can still make
about $90 a day.
"I have my regular customers, and I would like to continue offering
my services to them by getting a new Mercedes cab," he said.
"We have to put down a deposit of about $2,000 and drive the cab
for at least one year. I'll try it out and see if it's
feasible."
Another ComfortDelGro cabby said he was offered the new cab, but
decided to stick with his current Mercedes, which is due to be
scrapped in five years.
"I pay about $160 in rental now. The new (rental) pricing is too
high," he added.
National Taxi Association executive adviser Ang Hin Kee said: "As
rentals get higher, cabbies will have to drive longer hours. In
time, it may also translate to commuters having to bear the costs
in higher fares."
He also noted that while Mercedes taxi drivers serve a premium
clientele, they also face more competition from private car hire
apps, such as GrabCar, which also offer limousine-type
services.
-- SPH
