More bi-fuel Mercedes Cabs from Monday (12th December 2005)!
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From tomorrow, Monday, 12th December, SMART Automobiles, which operates SMART Cab, will take delivery of 30 units of the bi-fuel Mercedes Benz E200NGT. These vehicles will run on Compressed Natural Gas and/or Petrol. another 70+ units will be introduced by the end of December 2005.
These 30 units are registered on 08/12/2005, introduced on 12/12/2005, and their lifespan will expire on 07/12/2013. They will occupy the registration number ranges of SHB9007S to SHB9036H.
Next batch to be registered will be on 19th December 2005 (20 units)
3rd batch will be registered on the 22nd December 2005 (20 units)
4th batch are registered on 28th December 2005 (23 units)
Due to a higher rental of $110 per day as compared to regular Toyota Crowns, the bi-fuel taxis will charge a flagdown rate of $3.00*. The $110 rental is about $16 less than Comfort's Maxi Cab vehicle rental.
This move came with the attractive incentive of tax rebates. The bi-fuel vehicles, emits 20% less Carbon Dioxide without a compromise on performance.
Before this move, SMART Automobiles already has one bi-fuel Mercedes E180 on the roads, and this latest move is a result of positive feedback of the trial unit.
And so, what is so good about these bi-fuel Mercedes Benz, which demands a $3.00 flagdown? Not only does it gives a more comgfortable and quiter ride for passengers, it also has plush interiors, television screens mounted on seat backs, showing "live" TV programmes, like TV Mobile. The regular SMART Toyota Crowns, also has TV screens on the seat backs.
The only inconvenience is the re-fuelling process. The only CNG filling station is in Jurong Island, a restricted area, after the BP CNG station in upper East Coast Road cease operations a few years ago. There are plans to built 2 CNG more refuelling stations, at a cost of S$2 million each.
CNG currently retails at 65 cents for the equilivant of 1 litre of petrol (retail cost $1.67 currently, $1.07 for diesel). cost breakdown is roughly 7cents/ km (bi-fuel) vs 11cents for diesel powered.
Cabbies are set to save $20,000 from maintaince and fuel costs.
Click here to read about another report on CNG/ bi-fuel taxis.
http://www.sgforums.com/?action=thread_display&thread_id=156143
And this report about a failed CNG attempt by Toyota.
http://www.sgforums.com/?action=thread_display&thread_id=151981
*Another vehicle used by SMART, the Skoda Superbs, also has a flagdown rate of $3.00. -
From here, I hope that in the near future taxi travel in Singapore could be more cleaner and more environmentally friendly than before.
Also, btw, is it economic to operate such taxis? And is it that petrol fuel tanks of such taxis is half the size of the normal taxis? -
CNG retails at 70 cents for the equilivant of 1 litre of petrol (cost $1.67 currently, $1.07 for diesel). cost breakdown is roughly 7cents/ km (bi-fuel) vs 11cents for diesel powered. Needs refuelling twice daily.Originally posted by SGEMP:From here, I hope that in the near future taxi travel in Singapore could be more cleaner and more environmentally friendly than before.
Also, btw, is it economic to operate such taxis? And is it that petrol fuel tanks of such taxis is half the size of the normal taxis?
The cab is flexible when changing between CNG and Petrol woth a series of buttons.
So, looking at current petrol prices,and the increasing tax incentives and rebates yes, it is economical to operate these cabs.
Not too sure about the petrol tank. but believed to be half the normal, and the other half for CNG. -
wow thats cool! finally we are having more green vehicles
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Originally posted by 105090:
not v friendly to pocket hor?
From tomorrow, Monday, 12th December, SMART Automobiles, which operates [b]SMART Cab, will take delivery of several units of the bi-fuel Mercedes Benz E200. These vehicles will run on Compressed Natural Gas and/or Petrol.
Due to a higher rental of $110 per day, the bi-fuel taxis will charge a flagdown rate of $3.00*
This move came with the attractive incentive of tax rebates. The bi-fuel vehicles, emits 20% less Carbon Dioxide without a compromise on performance.
Before this move, SMART Automobiles already has one bi-fuel Mercedes E180 on the roads, and this latest move is a result of positive feedback of the trial unit.
The only inconvenience is the re-fuelling process. The only CNG filling station is in Jurong Island, a restricted area, after the BP CNG station in upper East Coast Road cease operations a few years ago.
Click here to read about another report on CNG/ bi-fuel taxis.
http://www.sgforums.com/?action=thread_display&thread_id=156143
And this report about a failed CNG attempt by Toyota.
http://www.sgforums.com/?action=thread_display&thread_id=151981
*Another vehicle used by SMART, the Skoda Superbs, also has a flagdown rate of $3.00.[/b] -
they wont be easy to spot or flagdown either.
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So far I did not see any cabs of such kind in city centre (Chinatown) or in Bedok.Originally posted by 105090:they wont be easy to spot or flagdown either.
btw, there is a CNA news article for your reference. -
huh?If they say the fuel is cheaper then why is the rental and the flag down rate so high?
and so what if its bi fuel?Does it have any power? -
bi-fuel cabs are a few thousands more expensive than the conventional ones, but the fuel is cheaper. in the long run cab drivers can save up to 10k.
the flag down fee is 60cts more expensive than the normal ones.
the reason? to offset the extra few thousands they pay for the bi-fuel cabs.
what kind of logic is this?
what about the 10k they save each year on the fuel? -
well,that is kinda rubbish.Basing an increase in price for their own investment.
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i find it sickening too.
wonder how they can come up with such a concept. -
yeah. hate this, SMART is raising the flagdown fares!! its indonesian boss everytime in the newspaper sure complain flagdown too low. want at least $3.40!
Their Skodas and merc are already $3.00 flag down. All other merc flagdown is $2.60 btw -
as mentioned, CNG is 65 cents/ litre. Diesel, after cabby discount, is 85 cents. If brent crude oil is going to fall to $45 per barrel, then diesel would be mujch cheaper than CNG. A gamble by SMART?
Still, their actions has raised the flagdown rate for limousine taxis. Inflation. -
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if they still have this $3 flagdown rate, they cud at least reduce back in years to come
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i feel that the merc taxis should be S350 instead
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1st batch to be registered on 8th December 2005 (30 units)
SHB9007S
SHB9008P
SHB9009L
SHB9010G
SHB9011D
SHB9012B
SHB9013Z
SHB9014X
SHB9015T
SHB9016R
SHB9017M
SHB9018K
SHB9019H
SHB9020C
SHB9021A
SHB9022Y
SHB9023U
SHB9024S
SHB9025P
SHB9026L
SHB9027J
SHB9028G
SHB9029D
SHB9030Z
SHB9031X
SHB9032T
SHB9033R
SHB9034M
SHB9035K
SHB9036H -
how bout SLKs?Originally posted by ceecookie:i feel that the merc taxis should be S350 instead 
Or maybe SLR -
Next batch (Batch II) are already on the roads!!
Registered on 19th December 2005 (20 Units)
SHB9037E
SHB9038C
SHB9039A
SHB9040U
SHB9041S
SHB9042P
SHB9043L
SHB9044J
SHB9045G
SHB9046D
SHB9047B
SHB9048Z
SHB9049X
SHB9050R
SHB9051M
SHB9052K
SHB9053H
SHB9054E
SHB9055C
SHB9056A -
I'd rather limo taxi fares be standardized at $2.60 across the board, and not $2.60 for the majority and $3 for SMART Taxis,
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Batch III are on the roads!
Registered on 22st December 2005 (20 units)
SHB9057Y
SHB9058U
SHB9059S
SHB9060L
SHB9061J
SHB9062G
SHB9063D
SHB9064B
SHB9065Z
SHB9066X
SHB9067T
SHB9068R
SHB9069M
SHB9070H
SHB9071E
SHB9072C
SHB9073A
SHB9074Y
SHB9075U
SHB9076S -
Batch 4 registered on 28th December 2005:
SHB9077P
SHB9078L
SHB9079J
SHB9080D
SHB9081B
SHB9082Z
SHB9083X
SHB9084T
SHB9085R
SHB9086M
SHB9087K
SHB9088H
SHB9089E
SHB9090A
SHB9091Y
SHB9092U
SHB9093S
SHB9094P
SHB9095L
SHB9096J
SHB9097G
SHB9098D
SHB9099B
23 Units in this Batch
Current Mercedes Benz E220NGT units: 93 -
How many bi-fuel cabs will be purchased?
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Theres no immediate further orders for bi-fuel taxis after these 100 taxis ordered by SMART.
Instead, Mercedes Benz will bring in up to 600 more Euro-4 compliant mercedes taxis, in stages.
http://www.sgforums.com/?action=thread_display&thread_id=152537 -
Looking at the flagdown of $3.00, against others of only $2.60, many people would rather take non-SMART Mercedes.
After all, its still a (short) ride.. $3 vs $2.60 for a similar taxi.. not justifiable.. The bi-fuel function doent really benefits commuters directly