Key West's famed pink taxis going green with hybrid vehicles

KEY WEST, Fla. (AP) — Key West's hot-pink taxis are going green.

Five Sixes Taxi has acquired 10 environmentally friendly hybrid vehicles as the first step to convert its entire fleet.

Company officials project the new fuel-efficient vehicles, that are still painted pink, will get about 38 miles per gallon in the city, versus their previous vehicles' 12 to 13 miles per gallon performance.

Company's president Jan Doelman says going hybrid "will reduce our emissions factor by 80 percent."

The company plans to replace its other 13 sedans with hybrids by March 2009, and change its 23 seven-passenger Maxi Taxis when a suitable hybrid van becomes available.