Boulder's city fleet took delivery last month on three electric-hybrid cars to replace three old gasoline-powered vehicles in the city's fleet, joining 13 other alternative fuel-powered cars owned by the city.
Each Toyota Prius, which can go up to 53 miles per gallon of gas on the highway, costs Boulder $20,699. But the price has been worth it to the city employees who've driven the ultra-quiet cars, said Bill Douglas, city fleet services coordinator.
The cars are powered by electricity and gasoline and, unlike some electric cars, never need to be plugged into an electrical outlet to recharge. The batteries are recharged by output from the generator when they become low, and the braking system is designed to recirculate excess energy to recharge the battery.
Boulder acquired the three cars as part of an ongoing effort to make its fleet more green, Douglas said. The city has 13 other alternative-fuel vehicles, including two small electric cars and one powered by liquid natural gas.