Slowly but surely, the need for being more environmentally friendly and reducing our carbon footprint is beginning to sink in. Dubai has invested heavily in its public transport infrastructure to entice more people away from their cars and onto buses, trains and taxis.
Now comes word that the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) is adding 20 new Toyota Camry hybrid taxis to its fleet operating on Dubai’s streets. While the initial deployment is small, the positive development needs to be looked at as the first stage in a comprehensive plan to use more eco-friendly vehicles in the emirate. Significantly, the RTA is the first entity in the region to utilise hybrid vehicles and the move comes on the heels of a pilot scheme.
The reduction in carbon emissions is significant — the green cars emit about 40 per cent less than regular vehicles. In addition, the cars use less fuel — travelling the same distance as normal cars, but using only a third of the petrol. The introduction of the hybrid vehicles is a small but significant step in improving air quality. After all, the mantra for the environmental movement is to think global and act local.
