Inuvik - He's the only taxi driver in Inuvik who drives a hybrid vehicle, and he's proud of it.

Maung Win proudly shows off his new 2009 Toyota Highlander Hybrid, which he said has cut his gas bill by 40 to 60 per cent. - Andrew Rankin/NNSL photo

"I'm saving about $25 a day in gas, which is about half of what I usually spend and I'm helping the environment," said Maung Win, who's been a United Taxi driver for the last two years. "I'm also driving a much better vehicle."

But it's only been in the last two months that he's switched from doing business with his 2007 Kia Sedona in favour of a 2009 Toyota Highlander hybrid.

Eager to display the magic of his new wheels, on Saturday he took Inuvik Drum for a short and smooth test drive.

Smiling as he starts the motor with a press of a button, he points out there's no sounds of an engine idling, only the low hum of a heater fan. That's because a silent electric motor is powering the SUV. It stays that way as he drives down Mackenzie Road.

In fact that's the way the vehicle operates all day as he maintains the low speed limits throughout town. Once he's on the highways the gasoline engine cuts in for extra power as the two systems work together.

"Old ideas merge with new ideas," he said. "It works so wonderfully. It's really comfortable. It's well designed. I think it's one of the best SUVs you can get. It's just an excellent vehicle."

While the engine is running it also works to recharge the electric battery. A monitor on the vehicle's dash tells Win how much electricity is being used to power the vehicle and how much juice remains in the battery.

At $50,000, the vehicle is a little on the expensive side, but he said the savings are dramatic.

"My monthly payment is $800 and my gas savings are $900 to $1,000 on gas. I'm not paying a penny more out of my pocket (overall), but I'm driving the better car."

He said United Taxi receives calls regularly from people requesting to be driven in the town's only hybrid car.

"Everybody notices it," he said. "When I pick people up at the airport they're surprised and curious. The kids are really interested in this kind of energy. It's a fantastic idea."

The vehicle also lacks several parts that a regular gas vehicle has and which are especially vulnerable to polar temperatures, including power steering hoses, since it operates on electrical steering.

The only downside is that there's currently no shop in town that can work on the electric engine -- the closest such garage is in Whitehorse. Which is why Win uses his Sedona as a spare vehicle.

He said he has taken other measures to reduce his carbon footprint. He's replaced all of his household standard light bulbs with florescent ones.

He's hoping that both taxi drivers and others looking for a smarter driving alternative look closely at buying a hybrid.

"Most people you have to show them mathematically how much money you can save," he said. "You have to have a incentive. Here's my proof. You can continue to drive a gas guzzling car but you're not going to save. Think of how much you can cut down on pollution.

"So just call for a hybrid and all the other drivers will follow me," he said with a laugh.