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Any taxi purchased after next October 1st will have to get at least 25 miles per gallon. A year later, this will be bumped up to 30 miles per gallon. That's because the Taxi and Limousine Commission has adopted new fuel efficiency rules.

Most of the city's cabs are Ford Crown Victorias, that get around 14 miles per gallon. The new rule means that fleet owners, who have to replace their cabs every 3 to 5 years, will most likely be forced to buy hybrids. Mayor Bloomberg wants all city taxis to be fuel efficient hybrids by 2012.