MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

New York City police incorporates 40 hybrid patrol cars

The Nissan Altima Hybrids account for 40 of over 100 total hybrid vehicles the Department is expected to deploy this year

New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly deployed on Thursday 40 marked and unmarked Nissan Altima hybrid patrol cars. The cars are part of the mayor's plan to slash city emissions by 30% by 2017.

“The new Altimas will be used where it makes the most sense,” said Kelly. “You'll see them in parts of the city that experience the most stop-and-go traffic, such as Midtown and other areas of Manhattan, as well as in precincts with the greatest ground to cover, such as the 122nd Precinct on Staten Island”.

After a year of monitoring, the department will decide whether or not to add more 35 miles per gallon vehicles to its fleet. .

The hybrid Altimas are partially funded by the intra-agency Energy Conservation Steering Committee, created by Executive Order signed by Mayor Bloomberg in 2007 and chaired by Deputy Mayor for Operations Edward Skyler.

“These new patrol cars will help fulfill the PlaNYC goal of reducing City government’s carbon footprint,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “Through savings in fuel, these Altimas can quickly cover their additional cost, from then they will save taxpayers money – another example of how going green is good for our environment and our pocketbooks.”

While the Altima hybrids are the first alternate fuel vehicles to be used as regular police cars, the NYPD already uses hybrid vehicles in it’s parking enforcement fleet as well as electric scooters.

The Nissan Altima Hybrids account for 40 of over 100 total hybrid vehicles the Department is expected to deploy this year.

The Nissan Altima Hybrids were acquired earlier this year following evaluation and testing by the Police Department’s Fleet Services Division and Driver Training Unit.

At $25,391 per vehicle, the Altima hybrids cost about $1,500 more than the conventional Impala. At 35 miles per gallon for city driving, the hybrid Altima gets double the gas mileage of the Impala, which gets only 17 miles per gallon.

The Altima hybrids, manufactured in Smyrna, Tennessee and outfitted with equipment specialized for patrol, will be used in addition to the Chevrolet Impala and the Ford Crown Victoria. The Department also uses Dodge Chargers, mainly for highway patrol. As with all hybrid technology vehicles, the Altima switches between gasoline engine and electric motor.

After a year of monitoring the vehicles performance the Department will determine whether to further expand them into the fleet. The Nissan Altima Hybrids will bring to over 170 the total number of hybrid vehicles the Department is expected to deploy this year.

In July 2008, Mayor Bloomberg put forth a long-term action plan to achieve the PlaNYC goal of reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions from the City’s municipal buildings and operations by 30 percent by 2017. The long-term plan, available on nyc.gov, is a comprehensive guide to reducing the City’s carbon footprint, through making City buildings more efficient, improving preventative maintenance, capturing energy potential at wastewater treatment plants, and more.

To meet its 30% reduction goal by 2017, the City must produce 1.68 million fewer metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2e) annually compared with 2006 levels. This will be achieved through an aggressive capital improvement program for the City's facilities, and significant enhancements to its current operations and maintenance practices.