Well, what fun! Cops in Athens, GA are now chasing bad guys and ticketing speeders in police-marked Priuses and Ford Fusions.
This is a happy thing. Not only does the police department save money by using about a third as much fuel (as miles per gallon rose from 18 to 49), they inspire everyday people to join the environmental game. And there are no better role models for testosterone folks with cars than the police, who need the best and fastest to give chase.
The Athens force has added 18 hybrids since 2008 for administrators and detectives, but are finally moving to the heavy duty performance needs. Other police departments have moved in this direction already, including Aspen; Arkedelphia, AR; Salt Lake City and New York City (the country’s largest fleet).
It’s great to see more cities integrating hybrids into police fleets, but taxis put on more miles and see a wider range of road conditions. They’re also run far longer than patrol cars, which are usually retired at or before 100,000 miles. Now, any worries about hybrid battery life have been largely laid to rest by early Ford Escape Hybrids that have logged 300,000 miles or more in taxi duty.
Metro Taxi in Denver will ultimately run no fewer than 500 Prius cabs. And because a taxi racks up 70,000 miles a year, five to eight times the average, Metro says using thePrius as a taxi saves as much gas as converting five or more personal vehicles. These fleets have been testing hybrids for all of us.
Thanks to Roger Johnson for this lead and thanks to the Athens Banner-Herald, writer Carla Caldwell, and the Atlanta Business Chronicle.