Hybrid-car advocate offers conventioneers a free ride

A Cambridge entrepreneur is offering delegates to the Democratic National Convention who support increased use of alternative energy a chance to vote with their seats.

R. Seth Riney, 30, is founder of and driver for PlanetTran, a four-car fleet of hybrid-powered livery vehicles -- 55-mile-per-gallon Toyota Prius cars. Delegates will be able to get free rides in them to two events sponsored by the Coalition for Environmentally Responsible Conventions, a Boston group that's pushing for environmentally sensitive practices at this year's GOP and Democratic conventions.

Riney said the Democratic convention, July 26-29 in Boston, is an important opportunity to show off his company's service.

''My mission isn't just to make $50 off of driving someone to the airport," said Riney, who has invested $40,000 in the two-year-old company. ''I have a broader mission to show the world, starting with Cambridge and Boston and Massachusetts, that this technology is useful and other people should consider it. What grander stage to exemplify than at the convention?"

Hybrid cars, which use evolving technology, are still more expensive to purchase than traditional taxis like Ford Crown Victorias. They also offer less power, and have less space for passengers and luggage. But they do offer substantial savings in fuel costs. The cars rely on battery power when running at low speeds or when they are stopped for up to 15 minutes, Riney said.

With gas prices in Massachusetts averaging $1.98 per gallon for regular unleaded, up from $1.51 per gallon a year ago, according to the American Automobile Association, the hybrid cars' fuel efficiency is attracting customers.

The gas/electric Prius rates 60 miles per gallon in city driving, according to this year's Environmental Protection Agency ratings; the Crown Victoria gets 18 miles per gallon. With a cab that drives on average 50,000 miles a year, a driver could save $3,850 in gasoline costs per year by switching to a hybrid vehicle.

Currently, PlanetTran functions as a livery service for passengers who make appointments. It cannot pick up customers on the street. Riney is asking the City of Cambridge's license commission for five taxi permits, though. His customers say that PlanetTran's cars are cleaner, safer, and more comfortable than a regular taxi, he said, and worth the extra cost of about one-third more.

''It's a great service, period," said Doug Thompson of Cambridge, who used Riney's service last week. ''The fact that it's a hybrid car is a nice extra. It's reliable, the driver's pleasant and knowledgeable . . . and the car's clean. All those things just add up to a great package."

Riney said he charges more because he wants to capture the market between cabs and high-end vehicles like town cars and limousines, while providing a cleaner atmosphere and reliable service.

Taking PlanetTran's Prius from Logan International Airport to the Charles Hotel in Cambridge costs $40. A taxi costs about $30, depending on traffic.

''It's saying you can do things in an environmentally sounder way," said Samuel I. ''Sandy" Rosenberg, a member of the Maryland House of Delegates who will be riding in a PlanetTran car this month when he is in town to attend the Democratic convention.

''You're voting with your pocketbook. If I'm going to take a taxi, better I should take one that is environmentally sound."

Riney said that if he gets Cambridge taxi licenses, he can advocate for special taxi stands at Logan Airport where alternative taxis could line up for customers. But Riney may have an uphill battle. Richard Scali, executive officer of the Cambridge License Commission, said the panel probably won't automatically grant Riney's request, because in recent years the commission has already given out seven medallions for disabled accessible vans and is waiting to see if there is a need for more cabs.

Riney's proposal has generated some concern among members of Cambridge's Taxicab Subcommittee, which holds monthly meetings of those involved in the taxicab industry and city department members, Scali said. Some in the industry don't want more competition, and there are those who say there is no documentation of a need for more cabs, Scali added.

Most drivers rely on inexpensive used Ford Crown Victorias, generally purchased at prices ranging from $7,000 to $10,000. It's a far cry from Riney's Prius cars, which can cost $21,500 to $26,000.

Stephen Sullivan, general manager of Metro Cab, which dispatches 800 to 900 drivers, said that unless the price of a Prius is in the range of $11,000 to $13,000, economically it would not be possible for drivers to invest in hybrid cars.

''It's an excellent idea, but the money is the main stopping point right now," Sullivan said. ''Ninety percent of the drivers would like the hybrid car so they can save gas, but the price puts it beyond what they can think about at this time."

Other companies are also trying to take advantage of hybrid technology for taxis in response to recent fuel price increases.

Azure Dynamics Corp., a Canadian company, and London Taxis International are developing hybrid electric taxis for projected annual volumes of up to 3,000 vehicles, with production potentially starting in early 2006. The companies are planning to retrofit the London black cab, making it a hybrid car.

John Heywood, director of the Sloan Automotive Laboratory at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, said it's too early to tell whether hybrid cars will become as widely adopted as taxicabs.

''Many people in the automotive business feel that hybrids are promising technology. They cost more, but they do save fuel," Heywood said. ''Over time, the difference in cost will cut down. People are positive about this technology expanding this role, but that doesn't mean that in 20 years every car will be a hybrid."

Even if his application for the hybrid taxi is rejected, Riney, who currently serves a customer list of about 100, plans to add four more Toyotas to his fleet by mid-September.

And this month, the Sierra Club, the nation's largest environmental grass-roots organization, is recommending that the club's national board of directors and the Sierra Club Foundation's board of trustees ride in PlanetTran's vehicles when in Boston for meetings, said Mary Ann Nelson, chairwoman of the Sierra Club Massachusetts chapter.

Wendy Lee can be reached at wlee@globe.com.