"Hypermiling" the law enforcement way.
Travis Yates - Police One - July 3, 2007
The quickest way for a municipalities police force to cut fuel use is to go hybrid. The UK’s Metropolitan Police ordered 117 Honda Civic Hybrids for its Community Support Officers to use as part of a Safer Neighborhoods scheme.
As the average gas price zooms well over $3 per gallon, law enforcement agencies nationwide will continue to struggle with the finances of doing what cops do every day: drive.
And while everyone, on a personal level, feels the impact of tripling gas prices, LE agencies, responsible for fueling entire fleets of vehicles, are especially hard-hit.
Take-home car programs and patrol techniques, in particular, are in jeopardy.
But take heart. There are a number of ways that fleet managers and the officers themselves can alleviate the cost crunch.
Vehicle Maintenance
A properly maintained car is the first key to ensuring maximum gas mileage. An out-of-tune engine or a failed emissions test is a sure sign that a car’s gas efficiency is not what it should be.
Likewise, an improperly adjusted carburetor, a bad spark plug or a dirty air filter can wreck havoc on gas mileage, while a serious issue like a faulty oxygen sensor can cause up to a 30% decline in fuel economy.
Fluid levels should be checked often. Low levels of oil, transmission fluid, steering fluid, coolant or steering fluid will burn fuel at higher levels due to increased friction within the vehicle.
Tire pressure and tire balance are also essential to maximum gas efficiency. Air filters should also be replaced on a regular basis …
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Thanks Doug!
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