Image by Beige Alert via Flickr
Green technology and consumer demand intersect with the Kalamazoo, MI, company, Little Green Limousine.
Hybrid Taxi Service
Steve Gibson started Little Green Limousine in May, 2012. His fleet is made up of one (1) fuel-efficient Toyota Prius. He is able to charge a lower fare of $25 – $30 per hour, which is about half the cost for a town car. Because of fuel efficiency he is able to make money while charging a lower fare and eliminating mileage and fuel surcharges.
Services for the Elderly
Recognizing that 10,000 baby boomers turn 65 every day, that people want to age in place, and the lack of support for the special needs of the elderly, Mr. Gibson started his service to provide continued mobility to seniors at an affordable rate. He recognizes that the adult children who might provide transportation often live out-of-town.
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Little Green Limousine provides a bit more than the traditional pickup and drop off service. Steve Gibson recently picked up a customer in one city, drove 80 miles to another for outpatient surgery, and drove him back home within a nine-hour period. He focuses on the comfort and safety of the customer.
To complement his taxi service, Gibson also founded Hands Around Home to do chores for seniors or people who don’t have time to get all their work done. Hands Around Home will clean gutters, wash decks, care for pets, clean pools, do yard work, or shop for groceries. Again, the ultimate result is that older people are more able to life independently while aging-in-place.
Reducing Carbon Footprint
(Image credit: Getty Images via @daylife)
Hybrid taxi services can be found throughout the United States. Some ventures have failed; some are just getting started. Green Cabs in Detroit, MI, is made up of an all-hybrid fleet of 150 cars. The Green Chauffeur, Kentwood, MI, closed down in 2010. 50% of the fleet for Metro Taxi in Denver, CO, is made up of hybrid vehicles. Metro Taxi also offers wheelchair-accessible vans. Cart’s Hybrid Airport Taxi operates out of Tampa Bay.
Mr. Gibson’s customers, while not usually activist environmentalists, are aware that the earth’s resources are finite. Many of them have lifestyles that do not require owning a car, but they do need car service a few hours a week.
Old Fashioned Customer Service
Because of more than competitive prices and a true understanding of customer service, Little Green Limousine is now providing transportation to busy professionals as well. Good service is good service.
Wouldn’t it be great to live in a world with good customer service once more? I am betting that many of us in the graying population will be happy to pay for it.
