A former Japanese school teacher is doing his bit to help the environment by launching a company using Toyota's gasoline-electric powered Prius car in what he claims is the world's first hybrid "Eco-Taxi" service.
Hideki Nakamura, the 54-year-old president of New Trans System, which began operating late last month, said the Eco-Taxi was a way to raise public awareness of environmental problems.
"I want people to know the importance of environmental issues," Nakamura said in an interview at his prefabricated headquarters in suburban Tokyo.
"Since our daily life is so dependent on cars, I decided to use them as a tool to get people interested in environmental problems such as global warming and the destruction of tropical rain forests," he said.
The Eco-Taxis not only protect the environment but help save money for passengers as the flag fare is 570 yen (five dollars) for the first two kilometres, 90 yen less than regular taxis, Nakamura said.
For a 70-kilometre ride, such as from central Tokyo to the outer suburbs for many late night revellers, the Eco-Taxi costs about 17,000 yen, 3,000 yen less than rivals.
{{/usCountry}}For a 70-kilometre ride, such as from central Tokyo to the outer suburbs for many late night revellers, the Eco-Taxi costs about 17,000 yen, 3,000 yen less than rivals.
{{/usCountry}}Nakamura said he became interested in environmental issues during his 13 years as an elementary school teacher.
"With my pupils, I used to make environmentally friendly soaps or grow vegetables without using agricultural chemicals and naturally I started caring about the environment," he said.