Clean Air Cab is an Arizona-based carbon-neutral taxi service provider, and the second taxi fleet in the U.S. to use only hybrid vehicles.[1][2][3] Based in Mesa, Arizona, it serves the Phoenix area with environmentally friendly transportation service by using clean automotive technology.
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The main goal of the operation is to be an environmentally aware business, and to take action to mitigate the damage done by pollution while providing a reliable and competitive transportation service.[4] Launched in October 2009, it is the first subsidiary company of Beyond Green, L.L.C.
Clean Air Cab is managed and run with a triple bottom line philosophy. This ensures that the actions taken by the company are positively reflected in a sociological, ecological, and economical way, in turn benefiting people, planet, and profit on equal levels.
The taxi fleet consists of 29 Toyota Prius vehicles, whose hybrid design helps cut emissions by 160% compared to typical taxi fleets of Ford Crown Victorias. Only vehicles that qualify as Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicles, which are hybrid vehicles that work to minimize air pollution, are used. Using hybrid vehicles helps the state of Arizona do its part in reducing greenhouse gas emissions in compliance with the Western Climate Initiative, which is "a collaboration of independent jurisdictions who commit to work together to identify, evaluate, and implement policies to tackle climate change at a regional level."[5]
In addition to lowering emissions, the company proactively helps reduce environmental damage by "[purchasing] carbon offsets and [supporting] global reforestation by subsidizing the planting of 10 rain forest trees monthly for each cab in service." The atmospheric carbon reduction partners are Trees for Tempe at the local level, and Trees for the Future and Carbonfund.org on a global level.[6] Both Trees for Tempe and Trees for the Future focus on planting trees as a major method of carbon sequestration "because trees have a huge capacity to absorb carbon from the atmosphere," reducing damage done by carbon emissions related to transportation.[7]
Involvement with Carbonfund.org helps reduce the harmful emissions resulting from transporting consumer goods in the U.S. by being a part of the funding of the Truck Stop Electrification Project. The success of this project would allow freight trucks to use truck stop electrification technology to stop the diesel fuel wasted by idling engines from adding to air pollution.[8]
The company works with EcoAid to manage carbon levels and promote sustainability through the trade of carbon offsets to compensate for the lowered but unavoidable carbon footprint left by the taxi service. EcoAid works with the Chicago Climate Exchange to take action against climate change fueled by emission of greenhouse gases. Carbon offsets are an integral part of the cap and trade industry established by the Kyoto Protocol.
From November 1, 2009 until November 1, 2010, the specially wrapped pink cab donated a portion of its fares to Susan G. Komen for the Cure.[9] In December 2009, Clean Air Cab sponsored the Pro Players Classic charity golf tournament. Clean Air Cab actively participates in the Valley Metro's Adopt-A-Station program to maintain cleanliness at light rail stations, promoting the use of environmentally friendly transportation choices.
Clean Air Cab is a member of both the Phoenix Green Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Phoenix Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce. It is also a member of Valley Forward, a Phoenix-based non-profit organization focusing on environmental protection and sustainability.