Hybrid cop cars to cut costs and emissions
Ford Fusion Hybrid (same model as the new RCIPS vehicles)
(CNS): Government is investing in two hybrid Ford Fusion vehicles for the police service to cut costs and reduce government’s carbon footprint, officials said. The home affairs ministry is introducing the cars to the RCIPS fleet next month. They will be monitored for performance and the results will inform a broader strategy of using more environmentally-friendly tools, cutting costs across government’s fleet.
In 2014/2015 financial year the home affairs ministry had a fuel bill for cars of almost $680,000, so improving fleet efficiency could yield significant savings.
A release from the ministry stated,”As with all hybrid technology vehicles, the Ford Fusion switches between its gasoline engine and electric motor. The ministry anticipates that the hybrid Ford Fusions will offer a useful compromise of the best of both electric and gasoline technology – electric motors create zero emissions and internal combustion engines provide the vehicle with adequate power. These vehicles are specified at 44 mpg for city commute compared to 22 mpg for the non-hybrid versions.”
The chief officer in the home affairs ministry, Eric Bush, said the priority had always been safety and performance. “Now we are turning our attention to adding outstanding fuel economy to that mix,” he added.
“The introduction of the hybrid cars fits nicely with our plans to review the National Energy Policy with a view to reducing our carbon footprint,” said Environment Minister Wayne Panton. “We will be able to monitor their performance and use that information to help create a more modern policy.”
National Energy Policy Chair Winston Connolly said he was delighted by the initiative. “Government, as it should, is leading the way here and I hope that this is a trend that will continue as we increase our efforts to embrace alternative energy sources and reduce our reliance on fossil fuels. I applaud the Ministry and its efforts,” he said.
Category: Local News
For true green machines they should buy Flintstones cars. Will help them stay fit!
We generate electricity by the most polluting and expensive method, by burning diesel. And think having a couple of hybrid cop cars is reducing emissions. You have got to be f**** kidding!
The police need to learn how to police. We could start at the top and work down.
And learn how to drive I might add
It would be even cheaper if more cops patrolled on foot.
Or bicycles?
soooo 1:16 that’s your solution to reducing crime!! well I guess that the typical private sector approach, find an unworkable solution and charge the customer more!! really??????
Where did the poster say it was a solution to crime? The subject I believe was associated costs of police vehicles.
This is of course big news but again questions. With a fuel bill of over just half a million for the entire portfolio how can with the Police only being a part of this bill claim that they are on patrol and doing proactive Policing activities? Poor once again with clear evidence to support it. The other thing is while any effort should be supported I guess to save money, what is the cost to purchase these cars and maintain them for this experiment. Also how about cutting costs with this CCTV scheme that clearly has not yielded value for money but again promises of extraordinary results at a high price? The simularity of many issues shares a common theme – high amounts spent for little return. Instead of a tout my horn press statement, bring along facts to support your ideas and schemes so you also have credibility. When negative questions are brought forth you can save your reputation with a factual explanation not jargon and pie filling.
12:09 what kind of pie are you eating?? Did you really say that CCTV has not yielded any value for money??? Are you kidding. I have lost track of the number of crimes solved by the national CCTV system. Come on, at least try and appear to be intelligent!!!
oh and explain this sentence ” Poor once again with clear evidence to support it”
get some rest please zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
I bet you got rolled over!
Wach you talkin bout Debbie?
Idea here. Give ALL govt. Employees hybrids. Then when they line up for ‘free’ gas it will cost me less in taxes.
Since you have lost count and know how many crimes have been solved by this expensive public venture, please enlighten the rest of is that are in the dark on what crimes have been solved using this equipment in a such vast numbers? I believe that if this is true it will lend credibility to the justification of spending millions into this scheme and build confidence when the government embarks on other ventures like these cars when you can prove a sound track record of past ventures. People would like to save money but to spend thousands to save a few hundred seems impossible to fathom so a simple cost analyst and break down would be prudent to present as alot of people see a pattern of what appears to be poor value for money. CCTV , Drones, Hybred cars all sound neat and modern but all are expensive and require funding that needs to be accounted for. Blanket statements are just that.
Excellent, these vehicles should assist the police to perform their vital duties i.e. to park up, run the a/c, take a doze, stop some random people for minor speeding offences, avoid investigating any serious criminality.
The only downside is that they look like they are LHD – not good at the drive-thru as the hard put upon officer will have to reach across or (worse) get out of the vehicle to collect the quadruple super cheeseburger & megasize fries.
typical cayman timing…just as oil is hitting a 15 year low…….
I also understand that the 44mpg urban cycle figure is very optimistic – 34mpg is probably more realistic. This is not a true economic option – RCIPS would be better off simply buying smaller vehicles. You could easily patrol these islands with Smart cars.
I bet within six to nine months you will see these two vehicles joining the many others at DVES on Red Gate Road, smashed up by police officers and wrote off by insurance companies.
If I am wrong………they will be categorized as the usual Ford models of “Fix Or Repair Daily”.
Ask any honest mechanic and they will tell you that the only good Ford vehiles that are produced today are their trucks Ford F-150 and others.
My sister once bought a brand new Ford Escape locally and within 24 hours – her dash board lit up like a Christmas tree with popping up lights. She returned it to the local
dealer and no one knew what had gone wrong or how to rectify the problem.
She then traded it in for a new Toyota Corolla and not even Hurricane Ivan could drown that vehicle. Still driving on the road today and driven by her former helper, like it was bought yesterday.
So, your evidence of ‘car quality today’ was two cars bought over a decade ago?
Ford cars are much like Hyundai’s and Kia’s. They have made some improvements over the years but you can’t beat a Toyota or a Honda any day of the week.
Changing the subject to Boats and Outboard Engines:
As for outboard engines, Mercury would be in the same class as a Ford, Hyundai, or Kia.
Want a reliable/dependable boat engine that will last you for the next 15 years with minimal maintenance ? Then buy a Honda, Evenrude E-Tec or a Yamaha outboard engine. They will rarely let you down on the ocean once your fuel is clean of contaminants.
One of the slickest and toughest boats on the market today are Boston Whalers. Just go to Harbor House marina and have a look at the ‘Outrage” that was deliberately set on fire and abandoned off the north coast of Grand Cayman, several months ago. Burn down to an ‘absolute mushroom’ but never sank and was towed back to shore. Try that with any other boat brand on the market today.
Sorry to say this – but seeing a beautiful Boston Whaler on the water today with a Mercury engine(s) at the stern, is much like wearing an expensive $5,000 suit but having old flip flops on your feet.
Ummmmmmmmmmmmmmh, yeah. But where does the electricity come from? Oh yeah, forgot, they burning fuel to get the electricity. And how does the fuel get to the Cayman Islands. Oh yeah, forgot – by boat. So they’re burning more fuel. And how does the fuel get to the electrical plant once it has arrived on island? Oh yeah, forgot again – by truck! Guess what, burning more gas! So no, I don’t see this as reducing the carbon footprint to zero.
Mr. Bush, what’s the purchase cost of the two hybrids?
Wow! While I wholeheartedly applaud any shift to greener technologies by anyone locally – especially CIG, – from observations and track record, RCIPS may not be the ideal recipient for expensive hybrid vehicles. Just look at the condition of the last fleet vehicles they received just a couple years ago!
Agreed, I’d give these six months tops!