In case you've been under a rock for the past few years, the faltering U.S. economy has shot a missile across the bow of all public safety agencies, with some of them making direct hits. Some agencies, like the Salt Lake City and New York City police departments are saving money and reducing the "carbon footprint" of their patrol vehicles with one action: the incorporation of hybrid vehicles into their fleets.
Salt Lake City has some of the country's most beautiful geography. Nestled against the mountains, this city of approximately 186,000 contains 111 sq. miles of patrol responsibility. Sensitive to preserving the clear skies and environmentally important attributes, Police Chief Chris Burbank and Mayor Ralph Becker decided to introduce several Toyota Camry hybrids and T-3 Motion electric vehicles (February 2008 LOM ) into its fleet for the department's 426 officers to evaluate.
The Camry Hybrids have distinctive black, white and yellow markings, and come equipped with a 2.4 liter DOHC 16-valve engine that produces 147 hp at 6,000 rpm. It's coupled to a permanent magnet, AC synchronous motor and is rated as an ultra-low-emission vehicle. The cost for a Camry equipped with radio, low-energy LED lightbar, markings, etc. comes in at just about $26,000. This is higher than a Crown Victoria, but the Camry pays for itself with a 33 mpg city/34 mpg highway fuel rating, more than twice that of a typical Crown Victoria. This fuel economy means the hybrid pays for itself quickly.
Of course, the Camry is good only if it works in the patrol environment, so testing is underway. According to Chief Burbank, "We'll be evaluating acceleration, handling, fuel economy and the like. If practical, we'll add more. There are still a lot of questions to be answered, but I'm hopeful hybrid cars will assist with our financial and environmental concerns."
The NYPD has similar concerns in a different environment. Un like Salt Lake City, the NYPD patrols "the city that never sleeps," where the effects of vehicles driven by a whopping 37,000+ police officers can be substantial. The NYPD has actively turned to hybrid options to save on operating expenses and clean up the city's air. The department has been using hybrid Toyota Prius and Ford Escape vehicles for parking enforcement for some time, but, according to The New York Post, the addition of 40 Nissan Altima hybrid four-door vehicles to the NYPD patrol fleet is new.
With approximately 3,250 patrol vehicles in a fleet mostly composed of Crown Victorias and Impalas, the 40 Altimas represent a significant departure in vehicle choice. The cars feature a 2.5 liter, 158 hp, DOHC 4-cylinder engine mated to a permanent magnet AC synchronous electric motor that adds a stout 199 lb-ft of torque from 0-1500 rpm. So the Altima has plenty of low end grunt to squirt through harried New York traffic and can run up to 40 mph on battery power alone. Add in the 35 mpg fuel rating, and the $30,752 cost of purchase (including computer, lights, etc.) seems reasonable. Eighteen of the 40 Altimas will be used for regular patrol work, with 20 used for unmarked duties ($25,595) and two outfitted for undercover taxi work ($28,600).
In total, the NYPD has allocated $1.1 million for the program, with the expectation of field evaluations to determine suitability. If it proves effective, the replacement of more than 3,000 gas-guzzling patrol vehicles with clean-burning, high-fuel-economy alternatives will certainly make a huge dent in operating costs and carbon emissions.
Recent advances in performance and design mean hybrids warrant serious consideration from police departments. Other vehicle manufacturers are now stepping up. Ford has a new Fusion Hybrid, and Chevrolet has Tahoe, Malibu and Silverado hybrids on the market. All offer more hybrid patrol vehicle options for departments to consider.
In the meantime, the jury is still out on the suitability of the Camry and Altima hybrids for police work, but as technology continues to improve at exponential rates, it's only a matter of time before fueling up for the day takes on an entirely new meaning.
For more information on the Salt Lake City PD's Camry Hybrid, contact Lara Jones at 801/799-NEWS. For NYPD, call the department switchboard at 646/610-5000.
