First 50 Chery hybrid taxis run on Beijing streets

Shanghai, July 1 (Gasgoo.com) In the days when fuel prices are soaring, a small number of gas-electric hybrid taxis running on the Beijing streets have arrested the attention of passengers and pedestrians alike, reported Beijing Evening News today.

This hybrid electric vehicle driven by BSG light hybrid power system were made by Chinese carmaker Chery Auto. The hybrid "Beijing Taxi" featuring the words "Hybrid Electric Vehicle" has the same yellow color and car body with a common taxi, but its brand logo has changed to Chery A5 from the previous Hyundai Elantra.

Fifty Chery A5 hybrids were delivered to seven taxi companies such as Xinyue (New Moon), Sanyuan, Yinjian in Beijing on June 21 as the first batch of "weak-hybrid" vehicles used in China's taxi market. The 50 hybrid taxis have started to run on Beijing streets for business. These Chery hybrids will be used to ferry athletes and spectators during the 2008 Olympic Games in the capital of China.

The "weak-hybrid" model uses gasoline as its main power, and its working engine will recharge a special cell in the vehicle. The electric power will start to work for the vehicle at idle or initial speed. When the speed reaches 5km/h and above, the power program will switch back to gasoline. This power system, which is suitable for cars on the often-congested Beijing roads and streets, can reduce a vehicle's fuel consumption by 15%.