The San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office is now rolling in a brand new 2021 Ford Explorer Hybrid patrol vehicle.
And it won’t be the last hybrid purchase. Going forward, all new general–purpose patrol vehicles will be hybrid, according to the Sheriff’s Office. While patrol car engines idle between calls for service, the hybrid vehicle’s gas engine will shut off and the battery begins handling electrical load for lights, radios and other electronic components in the vehicle. Just in reduced engine idle times, the Sheriff’s Office will save an estimated $3,500 annually, officials said.
The purchase of the vehicle, which has a 3-liter six-cylinder engine and 1.4-kilowattlithium-ion battery, was made possible thanks to a grant from the San Mateo County Office of Sustainability.
“By committing to purchase hybrid patrol vehicles, the Sheriff’s Office is taking a big step to reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” said Carolyn Bloede, director of the County of San Mateo’s Office of Sustainability, who noted the broad aim is to operate low and zero–emission vehicles across County fleets.
Sheriff Carlos Bolanos added, “As public servants we are the stewards of taxpayers’ dollars the benefit of moving our patrol fleet to a hybrid model will allow our County to be green while reducing expenditure on fuel costs.”
