The little white car with the crazy colorful paint job tooling about through Highland and New Paltz isn’t the Love Bug, despite its flowers, rainbows and peace signs.
It is the Mid-Hudson Valley’s first and only hybrid taxi, the “Happy Cab.” Dubbed thus by its passengers, one wonders whether the name is due to the giant smile painted across the front bumper, or the warm, fuzzy feeling you get when taking a ride in this prime automobile.
The cab, a Toyota Prius, is owned by Joey’s Taxi Company in the Town of Lloyd and is one of seven vehicles in their fleet. “We have four caravans, two party buses and now the Hybrid,” said Joseph DiBlanca, owner of both Joey Taxi Company and Autos by Joseph. “This is the first hybrid,” he said. “Even though it’s still very new, we are finding it to be extremely cost-effective.”
Purchasing the hybrid was a leap of faith for Joey’s Taxi Company. “The initial investment in acquiring the vehicle and repairing it is about five times what a standard taxi would cost,” explained DiBlanca. “The Toyota Prius Hybrid is a $25,000 car, if you acquire it at a year old.”
Despite the high initial investment, DiBlanca is confident that the car will pay for itself. “Everyone is very aware, now, of the damage to the environment, of global warming. So, we thought we would give the hybrid a try, both to reduce pollution and take advantage of the fuel savings.”
DiBlanca has made a quick study of alternative-fuel vehicles. “I didn’t have a lot of experience with hybrids up until about a month ago,” said DiBlanca. “A customer of mine brought a Prius in for some maintenance. It was the first time I had an opportunity to get in one, to drive it, touch it, feel it, smell it … see what made it tick. I was pleasantly impressed.”
From there it was a question of researching the vehicle and how it would hold up as taxicab. “Apparently, there are quite a few hybrids working as taxis in New York City, many of which are Toyotas.” DiBlanca finally decided he really liked the car, and went about getting gone of his own.
The experience has been positive so far, so much so, that DiBlanca has plans for adding more fuel-efficient livery to the fleet. “The goal is to have all our vehicles go hybrid within the next few years.”
While all the Joey Cabs sport a certain colorful look, like the black and yellow Caravans people like to call “bumble bees,” the vibrant paint job of the Happy Cab, seemingly beamed in from 1967 or so, is guaranteed to draw attention. “People stop on the sidewalk and stare!” laughed DiBlanca.
But despite the whimsical paint job, Joey’s Taxi Company takes its service seriously. “As far as our taxis are concerned, they are clean and our drivers are courteous and professional,” says DiBlanca. “There isn’t going to be garbage falling out of the door when you get in. It’s comfortable. It’ll be warm or cool, depending on what the weather is requiring.”
Joey’s Taxi Company is currently working for the county, the state and rehabilitation facilities. “We take the elderly to the doctor, to do their shopping, and to social services. We take recovering alcoholics and drug addicted people to their meetings, appointments and rehab.”
In addition, the Joey’s Cabs are available in both Highland and New Paltz until 5 a.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. “We figure (potential drunk drivers) can do one of two things,” said DiBlanca. “They can voluntarily call a Joey Cab and go home safe, without a DWI; or, they can have their car end up on the back of Joey’s Tow Truck when the police call after they’ve been pulled over. So, they are going to ride with me, one way or another.”
DiBlanca sees the need for additional public transportation, especially around the ever-popular New Paltz bar scene. “We are definitely going to grow,” he said. “The hybrid is a beginning. There is a lot of talk about the congestion and traffic causing pollution. We are kicking around the idea of instating a ‘trolley bus’ between Highland and New Paltz.” DiBlanca was inspired by the true tale of the old trolley that ran between New Paltz and Highland over 80 years ago. “Our trolley would run from Mohonk, or the foot of Main Street, to Poughkeepsie and the mall. We would try out some mass transit, that way.” DiBlanca is considering his options for making the trolley bus as fuel efficient as possible, contemplating bio-diesel, compressed natural gas or another hybrid. “It would be great for when the fairs are in town, taking people from the fairgrounds to the village. Especially when the craft fairs are in town and there is (significant increase in traffic congestion).”
In addition to caring about the environment, DiBlanca’s businesses are involved in supporting the community. “I participate with community sports for the kids. I sponsor a couple of teams here in Highland and I am looking to sponsor a couple more in New Paltz.” He also donates the use of his box trucks to To God Be The Glory Food Pantry in Poughkeepsie. “We donate our box trucks to transport the food that is donated every week. We pick up the food that is donated by Robin’s Wholesale Market, Adams Fairacre Farms or Entenman’s, etc. Then the food is distributed in the parking lot of the church and on Main Street in Poughkeepsie, to the hungry and the homeless.”