Chief Thomas Weitzel is pleased to announce that Riverside Police Department has received its first hybrid marked police cruiser, Ford SUV for front line service and review.
The hybrid 2020 Ford Police Interceptor Utility is expected to save at least 1,743 gallons of fuel per year — more than $3,400 per year in fuel costs, by the end of 2021. In addition to significant cost savings, the hybrid vehicles will help the Police Department and Village reduce their carbon footprint. The police hybrid SUV cruiser used by a police department is projected to result in 30,816 fewer pounds of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere each year.
“Riverside Police Department has the opportunity to go green and save significant fuel costs over the next several years as hybrid vehicles have evolved,” Chief Weitzel said. “The new generation of hybrid police cruisers promise the power, safety, and reliability needed by law enforcement agencies.”
The new hybrid Police Interceptor is the first-ever pursuit-rated hybrid SUV. With the power and safety features of a traditional all-gas cruisers with a fraction of the emissions, they are viewed as the future of law enforcement fleets.
In addition to better overall fuel economy, the new hybrid cruiser also reduces engine idle time by allowing on-board electronic devices in a police cruiser using the car’s hybrid battery, allowing the gasoline engine to shut off for extended time periods.
The move to green police vehicles marries well with a number of green initiatives requested by the Village Board.
Chief Weitzel will have his staff review the projected cost savings, maintenance costs, and overall operations of the vehicle so that recommendations for future purchases of hybrid vehicles can be made with one full year of use by patrol officers.
