At last night’s City Council meeting, Council authorized the purchase of three hybrid police vehicles to replace aging vehicles in the fleet. The vehicles are scheduled to be replaced as part of the City’s ongoing fleet maintenance program. All three of the current vehicles will reach the 100,000-mile mark when they are to be replaced this fall. This is the first time the Hudson Police Department will employ hybrid vehicles in its fleet.
The hybrids are gas/electric vehicles that require no special docking stations or plugins. Research has shown that hybrid vehicles will save money through reduced gas consumption and are a “greener” option with less CO2 emissions.
“Safety and performance were key issues for us,” said Hudson Police Chief Perry Tabak. “These hybrid vehicles outperformed all other options in most categories tested.”
Statistics show that the hybrid 2020 Ford Police Interceptor Utility Vehicle will save approximately 933 gallons of fuel per year when idling and an estimated 343 gallons per year while driving. Purchasing through the State of Ohio procurement process allows the City to buy the vehicles below dealer pricing. The City is continuing to explore ways to be environmentally friendly while seeking to lower fuel and operating costs in its fleet replacement program.