Electric Taxis Fail Test In NYC

City Searches For Environmentally- Friendly Alternatives For Cab Fleet A test of a battery-powered taxicab in New York City failed to meet the rigorous demands of a city that never sleeps. In a pilot test, electric cabs often failed after about 40 miles. Many cab drivers go 100 or more in a day. Undeterred, Mayor Michael Bloomberg and his supporters aim to convert the cab fleet to hybrid-electric vehicles by 2012 -- a move that is expected to save cab drivers significantly on fuel in the long term.