FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:    Heather B. Habelka, Office of the Mayor, 203.385.4001

Mayor Miron Announces Stratford’s Alternative Fuel, High Efficiency & Hybrid-Electric Vehicle Program

Stratford, Connecticut (April 25, 2007) – Pointing to the rising cost of gasoline and dangerous carbon emissions from motor vehicles, the Town of Stratford has made the acquisition of Alternative Fuel, High Efficiency and Hybrid-Electric vehicles a requirement for all new motor vehicles purchased by the Town.

Mayor James R. Miron announced his plans for Stratford to be a leader in fleet vehicle management through the utilization of Alternative Fuel, High Efficiency and Hybrid-Electric vehicles today at Stratford Town Hall while previewing some of the first Alternative Fuel, High Efficiency and Hybrid-Electric vehicles the town has purchased.

“This new policy, which requires all Town vehicles to be Alternative Fuel, High Efficiency or Hybrid-Electric , is part of my fleet vehicle management plan,” Mayor Miron said. “For years, the Town has operated without a comprehensive written fleet vehicle management plan. I have worked hard with members of my administration to create a sound, fiscally prudent fleet vehicle management plan that has an emphasis on protecting our environment.”

To date, five of these types of vehicles have been have been added to the Town’s fleet of 300 vehicles:

2004 Freightliner – FL 80 purchased for use by the Highway Department

2005 Freightliner – FL 80 purchased for use by WPCA

2004 Ford E350 purchased for use by Senior Services

2006 Ford Escape purchased for use by WPCA

2007 Ford Escape purchased for use by the Mayor

In addition, four additional 2008 Ford Escape Hybrids have been ordered – two for use by EMS and two for the Department of Public Works and the Police Department has recently purchased a high efficiency 2007 Dodge Charger.

State reimbursement grants for the WPCA truck and the Highway truck were awarded to the Town at $45,647 for each vehicle in addition to $4,750 for each of the two Ford Escapes.

2007 Dodge Charger

The Charger was purchased to replace a fleet vehicle that was damaged due to fire. The Dodge Charger’s unique features make it competitive with the 2007 Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor. Purchased for $22,522.80, the Charger has a 5.7-liter engine with a Multiple-Displacement System (MDS). The MDS allows the engine to operate on four cylinders when power demands are minimal. This provides the power of a V8 with the economy of a large V6. The EPA estimated miles-per-gallon is 17 city/25 highway.

The Charger’s features also include:

• Best in class performance (Braking, Acceleration, Overall Track Times) based on 2006 MY Michigan State Police & LA County Police Testing
• Only police car available with standard Electronic Stability Program with three modes: Normal, Minimal, and Disabled
• More available horsepower and torque then either the Ford Crown Victoria or the Chevy Impala
• Larger standard tires then either the Ford Crown Victoria or Chevrolet Impala for better road contact

The Dodge Charger’s police radio and Strobe lighting system were installed by Com-tronics, located at 627 Honeyspot Road in Stratford, and decaling was completed by Hansen Autobody LLC located at 1788 Barnum Avenue in Stratford.

Hybrid-electric vehicles (source: US Dept. of Energy)

Hybrid-electric vehicles (HEVs) combine the benefits of gasoline engines and electric motors and can be configured to obtain different objectives, such as improved fuel economy, increased power, or additional auxiliary power for electronic devices and power tools.

Some of the advanced technologies typically used by hybrids include:

· Regenerative Braking. The electric motor applies resistance to the drive train causing the wheels to slow down. In return, the energy from the wheels turns the motor, which functions as a generator, converting energy normally wasted during coasting and braking into electricity, which is stored in a battery until needed by the electric motor.

· Electric Motor Drive/Assist. The electric motor provides additional power to assist the engine in accelerating, passing, or hill climbing. This allows a smaller, more efficient engine to be used. In some vehicles, the motor alone provides power for low-speed driving conditions where internal combustion engines are least efficient.

· Automatic Start/Shutoff. Automatically shuts off the engine when the vehicle comes to a stop and restarts it when the accelerator is pressed. This prevents wasted energy from idling.

It is no accident that the most fuel-efficient vehicles in some classes for this model year are hybrid-electric vehicles (HEVs). Hybrids combine the best features of the internal combustion engine with an electric motor, and they can be configured to achieve a variety of different objectives, such as improving fuel economy, boosting performance, or providing electrical power to auxiliary loads such as power tools.

HEVs are primarily propelled by an internal combustion engine, just like conventional vehicles. However, they also convert energy normally wasted during coasting and braking into electricity, which is stored in a battery until needed by the electric motor. The electric motor is used to assist the engine when accelerating or hill climbing and in low-speed driving conditions where internal combustion engines are least efficient. Some HEVs also automatically shut off the engine when the vehicle comes to a stop and restart it when the accelerator is pressed. This prevents wasted energy from idling.

Unlike all-electric vehicles, HEVs now being offered do not need to be plugged into an external source of electricity to be recharged; conventional gasoline and regenerative braking provide all the energy the vehicle needs.

The federal government is currently offering tax incentives for HEVs and other alternative fuel vehicles. Some states, including Connecticut also offer incentives.

Consumers can save $200-$1,500 in fuel costs each year by choosing the most efficient vehicle that meets your needs. This can add up to thousands of dollars over a vehicle’s lifetime. Fuel-efficient models come in all shapes and sizes, so you don't have to sacrifice utility or size.

Natural Gas Vehicles (source: US Dept. of Energy)

Natural gas, a fossil fuel comprised mostly of ethane, is one of the cleanest burning alternative fuels. It can be used in the form of compressed natural gas (CNG) or liquefied natural gas (LNG) to fuel cars and trucks.

Dedicated natural gas vehicles are designed to run on natural gas only, while dual-fuel or bi-fuel vehicles can also run on gasoline or diesel. Dual-fuel vehicles allow users to take advantage of the widespread availability of gasoline or diesel but use a cleaner, more economical alternative when natural gas is available. Since natural gas is stored in high-pressure fuel tanks, dual-fuel vehicles require two separate fueling systems, which take up passenger/cargo space.

Advantages of Natural Gas:

§ Nearly 87% of U.S. natural gas used is domestically produced

§ 60-90% less smog-producing pollutants

§ 30-40% less greenhouse gas emissions

§ Less expensive than gasoline

Fact Sheet: US Department of Energy

Alternative fuels are derived from resources other than petroleum. Some are produced domestically, reducing our dependence on imported oil, and some are derived from renewable sources. Often, they produce less pollution than gasoline or diesel.

To promote alternative fuels, the Federal government offers tax incentives to consumers purchasing qualifying alternative fuel vehicles.

	Ethanol is produced domestically from corn and other crops and produces less greenhouse gas emissions than conventional fuels.
	Biodiesel is derived from vegetable oils and animal fats. It usually produces less air pollutants than petroleum-based diesel.
	Natural gas is a fossil fuel that generates less air pollutants and greenhouse gases.
	Propane, also called liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), is a domestically abundant fossil fuel that generates less harmful air pollutants and greenhouse gases.
	Hydrogen can be produced domestically from fossil fuels (such as coal), nuclear power, or renewable resources, such as hydropower. Fuel cell vehicles powered by pure hydrogen emit no harmful air pollutants.

Strengthens National Energy Security Better fuel economy can reduce our dependence on foreign oil. More than half of the gasoline we put in our cars comes from oil imported from other countries. Petroleum imports cost us over $4.4 billion a week—that’s money that could be used to fuel our own economy. Protects the Environment Burning fossil fuels such as gasoline or diesel contributes to a number of environmental problems, such as air pollution (smog) and global climate change. In addition, spills from refining and transporting oil and petroleum products damage ecosystems and pollute groundwater and streams. Conserves Resources Almost all of the cars and trucks we drive run on fuels derived from oil. Oil is a non-renewable resource, and while there is some debate as to how long this resource will last, we will eventually have to find new ways to power highway vehicles. Until other alternatives are developed, it makes sense to use fossil resources such as oil more efficiently to buy time to develop new and better energy sources and to make the transition to these sources smoother and less expensive.

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