After several years of legal battles and legislative efforts Electric Cab of Austin will soon be able to operate legally in downtown Austin.  The City Council recently approved the first writing of an ordinance that will allow electric LSVs to be used in the downtown area.  Rides are provided for free and the company generates revenue from advertising on the vehicles.  Learn more:  Dailytexanonline.com 

Comment:  This business model of using LSVs for center city taxi services has emerged in a number of cities.  Given the number of cities that could potentially implement a service such as this, it represents a potential growth area for LSVs that was not apparent several years ago.  The concept is another example of how STOVs can perform well in specific applications.  In this case regular taxis are too expensive for such short trips and electric LSVs provide a greener alternative while taking up less space on the road.