Samples Of Hybrid Police Vehicle Use
The list of municipalities replacing Crown Victorias® and Ford Taurus® models with hybrid police vehicles increases by the month. Northern Illinois University Police began using Toyota Prius models in 2006 to assist motorists and handle routine calls. The Seattle Police Department invested in Toyota Prius in 2007 to decrease its fuel consumption while keeping patrol cars on the street. The Aspen Police Department burnished its green credentials in 2008 by replacing Volvo© SUVs with Toyota Highlander Hybrids®. The Borough of Westwood, New Jersey saves 300 gallons per week, thanks to its Ford Escape Hybrid® vehicles. New York City invested in Nissan Altima® hybrids for its police department in spring 2009 as part of Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s plan to improve fuel mileage in city vehicles. These samples will give way to small and mid-sized police departments investing in hybrid police vehicles in the future.
Why Hybrid Police Vehicles Are Valuable
The main impetus for hybrid vehicle purchases by police departments is concerns about fuel mileage with older vehicles. Standard cruiser models like the Crown Victoria and Ford Taurus receive less than 20 miles per gallon. These vehicles go beyond the standard 12,000-mile range expected from passenger vehicles because of daily traffic routes. Police departments reduce their emissions and cut down on monthly fuel costs by investing in hybrid police vehicles.
City governments are under pressure from voters to decrease annual expenses while investing in green assets. The upfront prices of hybrid police vehicles are decreasing as higher production runs reduce the per-unit costs for each vehicle. Council members, city officials, and others are using long-term cost assessments when advocating for hybrid police vehicles. The lowered fuel costs from a traditional to a hybrid police cruiser alone are enough to convince budget hawks that these purchases are worthwhile.
The evolution of hybrid vehicles globally will make hybrid police cars, trucks, and SUVs more practical in the future. The first generation of hybrid cars was too diminutive and lacked the punch needed for patrol cars. Recent generations of hybrid vehicles feature larger backseats, durable bodies, and other features that ensure officer safety on the job. As the Toyota Prius®, Ford Escape Hybrid®, and other models continue to improve, they will move from experimental purchases to standard police cruisers.
Toyota Prius Hybrid®
The Toyota Prius Hybrid® (https://fleet.toyota.com/vehicles/prius.asp) is the longest-lived hybrid vehicle on the global auto market. The Prius® has gone from a diminutive hybrid roaming the streets of Tokyo to a vehicle in such high demand that Toyota© dealerships kept buyers on waiting lists for months. The latest incarnation of the Toyota Prius Hybrid® is priced from $22,000 MSRP, which decreases with fleet discounts offered to police departments. Police officers driving in these hybrid police vehicles can expect 51 miles per gallon during city travel.
The Toyota Prius Hybrid® is loaded with green features that are built for the rigorous demands of police departments. The vehicle’s solar roof offers supplementary power to air conditioning, heating, and audio systems. The Toyota© pre-collision system includes a Direct Tire Pressure Monitor System and Safety Connect to protect officers from sudden accidents and road obstacles. Toyota© adds features like eco-plastic seats, Bluetooth® connectivity, and Intelligent Parking Assist to make the Prius® an invaluable tool for police departments.
Toyota Highlander Hybrid®
The Toyota Highlander Hybrid® (http://www.toyota.com/highlander/) is a hybrid SUV increasingly favored by police departments. The Highlander Hybrid® is priced from $25,705 and offers a sturdy body that is ideal for a police cruiser. Toyota’s© focus on safety is clear in the Highlander Hybrid® with features like side-impact door beams and collapsible steering columns. The three-row side curtain airbags protect officers and passengers from serious accidents.
The Highland Hybrid® qualifies as an Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle (ULEV) and gets up to 27 miles per gallon during highway travel. Police officers using Highlander Hybrids® control access to their vehicles with remote keyless entry and power windows with jam protection. The vehicle’s Hill Start and Downhill Assist Controls allow police officers to navigate hilly streets without wasting fuel. The Toyota Highlander Hybrid® will become a mainstay of police departments nationwide as the vehicle’s features are refined further.
Nissan Altima Hybrid®
The Nissan Altima Hybrid® (http://www.nissanusa.com/altima/) is a relatively new option for police departments searching for hybrid cruisers. The Altima Hybrid® is priced from $26,650 with myriad options pushing the typical unit beyond $30,000. The Nissan Altima Hybrid® is powered by a 198hp, 16-valve engine with direct ignition to ensure better gas mileage. The EPA rates the Altima Hybrid® at 35 miles per gallon and Nissan© notes that the vehicle can get up to 600 miles per tank in optimal conditions.
Nissan© designed the Altima Hybrid® with front-wheel drive and a 30kW NiMH battery. This model features an engine shutdown feature to preserve fuel when police officers are stuck at red lights. The Altima Hybrid’s® digital display shows police officers their fuel mileage, available fuel, and other metrics to determine vehicle performance. The electronic continuously variable transmission (eCVT) in the Altima Hybrid® is an improvement on the typical auto transmission by providing smarter and smoother gear shifts.
Ford Escape Hybrid®
Police departments focused on buying American look at the Ford Escape Hybrid® (http://www.fordvehicles.com/suvs/escapehybrid/) as an alternative to the Toyota Highlander Hybrid®. The Escape Hybrid® is priced from $29,645 MSRP and achieves 34 miles per gallon during city travel. Ford© covers the vehicle’s NiMH battery with an eight year, 100,000 miles warranty to protect police departments from battery replacement costs. This hybrid SUV features a regenerative braking system that gathers energy from the brakes to recharge the battery. The vehicle’s 27.8 cubic feet cargo bay is ideal for gun racks, orange cones, and other supplies needed for daily police routes. Police departments feel comfortable putting their officers in the Ford Escape Hybrid®, thanks to the vehicle’s AdvanceTrac® system with Roll Stability Control.
|
