Even with gas prices currently on the decline for the second straight week, it’s unlikely pain at the pump will be far from the mind of the American consumer anytime soon. Still, the majority of us, driving an average of 15,000 miles per year at 20 miles per gallon, will only spend about $3,000 on gasoline. It’s a big number, sure, but it pales in comparison to the debilitating effect of high gas prices on local municipalities, transit organizations, and other companies maintaining vehicle fleets. 

Faced with the challenge of rising prices, many municipalities have shown an impressive level of creativity in dealing with the problem. New York, often a leader by necessity due to its exceptionally dense population and legendary appetite for power consumption, announced last year that its entire fleet of yellow cabs would be replaced by hybrids as of 2012. 

The Ford Crown Victoria -- the car that most of today's yellow cabs are modeled on -- while large, durable, and easy to repair, is an insatiable fuel hog, churning out a mere 14 miles per gallon in city driving conditions. This is especially bad news for police forces that use the model, as aftermarket modifications to their vehicles often add weight further decreasing already abysmal gas mileage.  While some forces have responded by passing the cost of police actions onto offenders, others have taken more proactive steps toward a solution.

Police in Honolulu have opened bidding on a contract for six new hybrid cruisers. The appeal is immediate to Honolulu police officials, as cars use no gas while running off their batteries, and a tremendous amount of police vehicle activity involves “the vehicles idling with blue lights running.”  The police force also looks forward to testing the vehicles' ability to take modification and hold up under real-world conditions. Some British police operations have already come back with rave reviews for the Lexus GS 450h hybrid.

While the net result of all this fuel saving is less burden on taxpayers and easier-to-plan municipal budgets, the integration of cleaner vehicles into vehicle fleets has another Earth-friendly side effect: visibility. While people may joke about the ham-handedness of public offices, the fact remains that fleet vehicles see more use and abuse than any other vehicles on the road. When these vehicles don’t work, everyone notices. Likewise, every mile that passes under their tires is another vote of confidence.

Communities can continue to foster a positive public impression of fuel-efficient vehicles by inserting them into roles generally filled by private vehicles and gasoline reimbursement. The city of Somerville, Massachusetts, just north of Boston, recently purchased several Smart cars for its departments of assessing and inspection. The vehicles, purchased from a local dealer and decked out in a municipal paint job, save gas, stimulate the economy, and encourage other local residents to do likewise, all in one green swoop.

Related articles:

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For Mayors, Fuel Cost Presents Opportunities
GPS Helps Organizations Get on Track

 

Photo by Flickr user Ted Fu