Ford Hybrid Patrol, Glendale PD to 'Cite' Fuel-Efficient Drivers With Free Gas Cards

WHAT: The Glendale Police Department is teaming up with the "Ford Hybrid Patrol" rewarding fuel-efficient, safety-conscious drivers at random in a customized Mercury Mariner Hybrid patrol SUV. Glendale drivers will be rewarded free gas cards.

It's part of Ford Motor Company's effort to promote fuel efficiency, safe- driving habits, and explain the myths and realities of hybrid technology. David Mack, Ford Hybrid Vehicle Integration Supervisor, will briefly give drivers tips about fuel economy, as well as presenting a fuel-economy clinic for the Glendale PD.

To illustrate the impacts of driving habits on fuel economy, the officers will take part in a fuel economy challenge in identical Ford Escape Hybrids. Across the country, officer mileage has varied from 32 mpg to 58 mpg.

The department purchased 192,000 gallons of fuel in 2004 fiscal. With gas prices in the LA area averaging $2.75, fuel is consuming an increasing portion of the department's operating budget. The fuel-economy clinic will help officers improve their fuel economy, and provide insights into hybrid innovation as more governmental agencies are giving the fuel-saving hybrids a closer look.

One such agency is the Riverside County Environmental Health Department. The department recently introduced a fleet of 15 Ford Escape Hybrids, specially modified for haz-mat use. The Riverside fleet is the first known application of the environmentally friendly Escape Hybrid for environmental management.

  WHERE & WHEN:

  Thursday, November 17, 2005
  Glendale Police Department
  131 N. Isabel Street
  Glendale, CA 91206
      *  6:30 - 7:30 a.m. - Patrol Officer's Economy Clinic and Challenge
      *  9:30 - 10:00 a.m. - Traffic Officers' Economy Clinic and Challenge
      *  10:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. - Ford Hybrid Patrol in Glendale

  Anaheim Arco Station
  1201 S. Brockhurst Street
  Anaheim, CA 92804
      *  1:00 - 2:00 p.m. - Gas card giveway in Anaheim

  Friday, November 18, 2005
  Riverside County Hazardous Materials team
  4080 Lemon St.
  Riverside, CA
      *  1:00 - 3:00 p.m. - Riverside County Hazardous Materials Hybrid Fuel
                            Economy clinic

ALSO: The Glendale Police Department fuel economy clinic will include a friendly fuel-economy challenge between officers. The officer earning the best fuel economy 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 Glendale Police Students Training as Role Models (S.T.A.R.) youth program, an organization to expand the horizons of the youth within the City of Glendale, and reduce truancy, drug, and gang activity. S.T.A.R. also provides more opportunity for police officers to interact with the children in a positive way.

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 Marilyn Gordon at 313-203-7226 or mgordon@pcgcampbellco.com to schedule one-on-one interviews/test drives with David Mack or to cover the hybrid patrol.

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

PRNewswire -- Nov. 10