New York's Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) has supported a plan for yellow taxicabs to go green, a move that the city has been exploring for some time.

Following the city's Clean Air Taxis Act, signed in July, incentives will be offered to taxi-drivers in an effort to convert them to the green alternative. The act required the TLC to approve at least one hybrid gas-electric taxi within 90 days.

In addition to the governmental tax incentives for hybrids, New York will be handing out 81 discounted taxi licences for drivers choosing hybrid cars.

Only Los Angeles and Houston have worse air quality than New York so it is expected that the hybrid vehicles will have an important effect and could lead the way on introducing the city to hybrid power, reports Mother Jones.

Hybrid cars prove particularly fuel-efficient in city areas where there is a lot of stopping an starting as they recapture energy during breaking to use in acceleration.

San Francisco and Vancouver already count hybrid vehicles among their taxis.

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