AN EMERGING entrepreneur is making the most of his redundancy and saving the planet at the same time by launching Chelmsford's first eco-friendly taxi firm. After losing his job, Richard Taylore decided to start his own business, A12 Cars, by redeploying his former company car into a green private hire minicab. The Toyota Prius cleverly combines an electric motor with a petrol engine to help slash emissions and noise pollution. Richard, 35, of Stock, said: "I recently lost my job. For that job I had purchased a hybrid company car and I either had the choice of selling the car or using it as a good way to make money. "I had seen several hybrid taxis in London but none in the Chelmsford area, and that is when I decided to set up A12 Cars." Richard had been working as an IT sales and marketing rep for four months before he was made redundant in October last year. However, his entrepreneurial spirit has seen him carve himself a new career as an eco-friendly cabbie. The fusion of electricity and petrol means his Prius car is almost silent when driving on residential streets. Plus the electric motors turn into generators when the brakes are applied to recharge the batteries. The 1.5-litre, 76 brake horsepower engine is capable of reaching 0 to 60mph in 10.9 seconds. Business is going remarkably well for Richard as he has seen bookings double every week and is hoping to expand his green company by the end of the year. When asked how he feels about opening a business during the recession, Richard added: "I definitely found it a little nerve racking at first, but even in the current economic climate people will still need to get about and will still require taxis. "I also believe the recession will be relatively short-lived and when things pick up, my business will really take off!" Richard says his green company will help encourage others to embrace a positive attitude to the environment and reduce their carbon footprints. He added: "I believe that most people will always choose a green option where it becomes readily available, and my private hire company provides the perfect way for people to support our environment." For more information call A12 Cars on 08007 566 466 or visit the A12 Cars homepage