Council May Purchase Hybrid SUV for ‘Green Fleet’

ATHENS, OHIO – Athens might purchase a hybrid SUV to replace the Athens Police Department’s unmarked vehicle.

by Staff

February 13, 2008

1 min to read

ATHENS, OHIO – Athens might purchase a hybrid SUV to replace the Athens Police Department’s unmarked vehicle. The new vehicles would get two times the gas mileage than an alternative SUV, according to www.thepost.ohiou.edu.

The hybrid Ford Escape costs about $24,000 while the Ford Explorer costs about $19,000. The hybrid Ford Escape would save the city about $1,400 in gasoline for every 15,000 miles driven, according to comparisons on www.fueleconomy.gov.

The hybrid Ford Escape, which gets 32 miles per gallon, uses about 10 barrels of oil less than the Ford Explorer, which gets 14 miles per gallon in the city, according to www.thepost.ohiou.edu.

The city also plans to spend about $56,000 for two Ford Crown Victoria cars to replace two of the Athens Police Department’s marked police cars. Although the cars cost about $23,000 each, they need add-on such as sirens, racks to hold police weapons, a radio console, and strobe lights.

Athens City Council must meet an April deadline to save about $10,000 through a U.S. General Services Administration grant.

One of the largest environmental concerns that Athens faces involves carbon emissions. The City plans to create a “green fleet” policy to encourage purchasing hybrid vehicles for the city.

Topics:Gasoline-Electric Hybrids Green Fleet

More Green Fleet

Rendering of electric vehicles charging beneath a solar-panel canopy, illustrating Inspiration Mobility Group’s acquisition of Electrada assets to expand commercial fleet electrification services.

Green Fleet•by News/Media Release•June 17, 2026

Inspiration Mobility Acquires Key Electrada Assets

Inspiration Mobility Group has acquired select assets of Electrada, adding the fleet electrification provider's team, technology, and charging infrastructure development capabilities to its energy management business.

Turning Connected Vehicle Data Into Decisions That Matter

Fleet leaders have more data than ever, but turning that data into clear, actionable decisions remains a challenge. This white paper shows how leading organizations are using connected vehicle data to improve safety, reduce costs, and optimize fleet performance. Learn how to turn insight into action across your fleet.

Are You Tracking Your Fleet's True Total Cost of Ownership?

Bobit Business Media surveyed 190 fleet professionals and found that while most fleets are tracking costs, fragmented systems and data gaps are keeping true TCO visibility out of reach. With rising pressure to control spend in an increasingly volatile environment, the gap between what fleets think they know and what the data actually shows is wider than you might expect. See how your peers are managing costs today and where the industry still has room to improve.

Hybrids: Electrification Without the Challenges

For fleet managers, fuel is one of the biggest line items in the budget — and it's one hybrids can shrink without changing how your people work. Download the eBook to see the numbers, understand the technology, and get a step-by-step guide to making the switch.