Ford Hybrid Patrol, Alexandria PD to Pull Over and 'Cite' Fuel-Efficient Drivers with Free Gas Cards

WHAT: The Alexandria Police Department is teaming up with the "Ford Hybrid Patrol" to pull over fuel-efficient drivers at random in a customized Mercury Mariner Hybrid patrol SUV (complete with flashers and bullhorn). Drivers will be rewarded free gas cards.

It's part of Ford Motor Company's Washington, DC effort to promote fuel efficiency and explain the myths and realities of hybrid technology. David Cue, Ford Hybrid chief engineer, will accompany the officers and briefly give drivers tips about maximizing fuel economy. Cue will also give a fuel-economy clinic at the Alexandria PD for officers at roll call. The department purchased 180,884 gallons of fuel in the 2005 fiscal year, accumulating 1,716,637 miles patrolling the city's streets in its 183 patrol vehicles. With gas prices in the Washington-DC area averaging $2.48 (regular), the department's 2006 fiscal year fuel budget is projected to reach $1.5 million, a possible increase of more than $500,000 from last year.

The fuel-economy clinic will help officers improve their mpg in patrol cars, and give them insights into hybrid innovation as more governmental agencies in the U.S. are giving the fuel-saving hybrids a closer look.

  WHERE &
  WHEN:    Alexandria Police Department
           2900 Eisenhower
           Alexandria, VA 22314

  Wednesday, November 2, 2005
  *  7:30 a.m. - Fuel Economy Clinic
  *  8:10 a.m. - Officers' fuel-economy challenge
  *  9 a.m. - 3 p.m. - Hybrid Patrol's $25 BP gas gift card distribution to
                       random drivers in the city.

The Alexandria Police Department and Ford will also distribute $25 BP gift cards from 11-11:30 a.m. at the BP gas station, located at 6540 Edsall Road in Alexandria.

  Thursday, November 3, 2005
  *  11 a.m. - $25 BP gift card give-a-way at the BP gas station located at
               5001 Connecticut Ave. NW in Washington, DC.

ALSO: The Alexandria Police Department fuel economy clinic will include a friendly fuel-economy challenge between officers. The officer earning the best fuel economy driving a Ford Escape Hybrid or Mercury Mariner Hybrid will be entered to win a brand-new Mariner Hybrid for his/her department against other police agencies across the country.

Ford will donate $2,500 to the Alexandria Police Youth Camp, Inc., an organization founded in 1947 to offer affordable camping for children ages 9- 11. Since its inception, it has organized summer country camping activities for more than 17,000 Alexandria children. The camp owners are officers of the Alexandria Police Department.

The Mercury Mariner Hybrid debuted at the Chicago Auto Show earlier this year. Along with the Ford Escape Hybrid, it is one of two hybrids currently manufactured by Ford in the USA, which together are the world's first hybrid SUVs. Demonstrating its commitment to hybrid innovation, more than half of the Ford, Lincoln and Mercury products will have hybrid capability by 2010.

Please contact Bill Gray via cell at +1-313-506-8929 or wgray@campbellco.com to schedule one-on-one interviews/test drives with David Cue or to cover the hybrid patrol.

Go to http://media.ford.com/ for news releases and high-resolution photographs.

PRNewswire -- Oct. 31