Launch of the World’s First Carbon-Negative Taxicab Fleet

‘Going green’ is more than a saying— it is a fundamental belief that should be embraced and discussed internally and externally

Challenge
VE & Co. was charged with increasing public awareness and regulatory approval of the world’s first carbon-negative taxicab service called enviroCAB from the Arlington, Virginia County Board.Despite the county’s commitment to green initiatives, no new cab company had been approved in 13 years.

Solution
VE PR spearheaded a public awareness campaign to generate public support for enviroCAB in Arlington County and metropolitan Washington, D.C. via media outreach support.

Results
enviroCAB received unanimous approval from Arlington County Board to operate the all-hybrid fleet of 50 taxicabs within the county, becoming the first carbon-negative cab company in the world. The campaign reached more than 3.4 million people. When enviroCAB launched its fleet four months later, VE & Co.’s outreach reached more than 17.3 million people throughout the world, including news stories on NPR, CNBC, The Weather Channel, Voice of America, and the Fox Business Network. In three months, the company experienced a 700 percent increase in calls, with the owner attributing that increase mostly to VE & Co.’s outreach, since the company did not conduct any advertising.