A Green Transition for the For-Hire Vehicle Industry

Vehicle cost push drivers into poverty—and complicate efforts to mandate a transition to electric vehicles. The FHV fleet of 96,000+ gas-powered vehicles puts 1.4 million tons of CO2 into the air every year– contributing to climate change. The FHV fleet is largely not wheelchair accessible.

A Green Transition for the

For-Hire Vehicle Industry

The Problem

  • Vehicle cost push drivers into poverty– and complicate efforts to mandate a transition to electric vehicles.

  • The FHV fleet of 96,000+ gas-powered vehicles puts 1.4 million tons of CO2 into the air every year– contributing to climate change.

  • The FHV fleet is largely not wheelchair accessible.

Our Solution

  • Create a $1 Green Transition Surcharge on rideshare trips, paralleling NYC’s Taxicab Improvement Surcharge.

  • Collect funds in a public Green Transition Authority authorized to:

    • Co-invest in electric/wheelchair-accessible vehicles with drivers and

    • Finance charging infrastructure and related facilities through bond issuances.

    • Provide transition assistance for drivers into good, green jobs.

  • After a complete transition to a right-sized fleet, funds may be used to help pursue other green transition projects to accelerate the State towards the goals of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA).

Impact of the Green Transition

The Problem

  • Vehicle cost push drivers into poverty– and complicate efforts to mandate a transition to electric vehicles.

Solution

  • A switch to EVs can nearly double driver income

  • The Green Transition Authority can fund conversion of 100% of the fleet within three years.

A Solution for People with Disabilities

The Problem

The FHV fleet is largely not wheelchair accessible.  In New York City, only 3,736 of 95,000 vehicles are accessible, and riders requesting accessible vehicles experience longer waiting times than other riders.  In upstate NY, the problem is reportedly much worse although New York does not require Uber and Lyft to share data on the number of accessible vehicles in their fleet.

Solution

Removes all of the CO2 and other pollutants from the FHV fleet.

  • Reduction in asthma rates, especially in communities that see a high volume of FHV traffic. 

  • Will help the State meet its CLCPA goals and live up to our Environmental Amendment to the State Constitution.

A Solution for the Environment

The Problem

  • The FHV fleet of 96,000 gas-powered vehicles puts 1.4 million tons of CO2 into the air every year– a significant contribution to the climate crisis.

Solution

  • Removes all of the CO2 and other pollutants from the FHV fleet.

  • Reduction in asthma rates, especially in communities that see a high volume of FHV traffic. 

  • Will help the State meet its CLCPA goals and live up to our Environmental Amendment to the State Constitution.

Our Coalition

  • The Drivers Cooperative

  • New York Lawyers for the Public Interest

  • Sunrise Movement