Environmentally friendly hybrid electric-gasoline cars purchased last year proved so popular and functional that city officials said they hope to make half of the roughly 30 automobiles the city buys each year alternative fuel vehicles. Whether the auto industry will be able to help the city achieve that goal is still an open question. Some new rules about cars in California may help answer that question. Vermont and New York are expected to follow suit with similar requirements in coming months, and Hill expects Colorado activists to seek similar standards in this state. In addition to the hybrids, city workers drive two fully electric pickups, one natural-gas vehicle and 10 fueled by propane.
Hybrid vehicles combine a traditional internal-combustion engine with an electric motor and battery.
Gasoline powers the engine at higher speeds while the electric motor runs the vehicle at low speed, thus reducing emissions. City workers' impressions of the vehicles are good, said Christine Andersen, deputy city manager for environmental affairs. This new generation they've brought out seems like they've crossed the threshold and perform like any other sedan. Support services for the vehicles have improved as well, she said, and as time goes on, the cost of the hybrids is expected to go down. The Daily Camera.