Mexico City fights pollution with hybrids and electric cars

World Today

Mexico City fights pollution with hybrids and electric cars2

Mexico City was named “the most polluted city in the world” in 1992. The city has seen a lot of improvement since, but is still fighting unhealthy pollution levels.

Now, they are taking to the streets to clean the air, by upgrading city taxis to include hybrids and electric cars.

CCTV America’s Martin Markovits reports.
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Two years ago, city government officials launched Mexico’s electric taxis in hopes of reducing the city’s smog levels. The city’s air pollution has gotten so bad this year that the government has instituted driving bans aiming to take 40 percent of the cars off the road.

The expansion plan also includes government incentives by offering 3,000 dollars for taxi drivers to change their cars to hybrids or electric, but some taxi drivers believe it isn’t enough.

Last week, federal and local government announced new emissions inspection regulations which would apply to trucks and buses for the first time.

And while these new regulations and the expansion of electric taxis may help bring down pollution levels, the greater use of electric cars won’t solve Mexico’s City’s other major problem: traffic.