Aspen, CO police audition Toyota Highlander Hybrid patrol car
The Aspen Police Department has a fleet of seven Volvos, but the city's contract with the Swedish automaker is set to run out. Hence, it's time to see what other vehicles could fit the resort community's patrol needs. The city has purchased a single Toyota Highlander Hybrid, given it full markings, and outfitted it with all the accessories required for police duty. While the hybrid Toyota is greener than the vehicles it could potentially replace, there are some issues that will have to be overcome before it's deemed truly ready for police use. Apparently, supplying power to all the additional police-specific add-ons is problematic and there's some hang-up about snow tire availability for the CUV's stock wheels at this time (in a ski community, this is no small concern, but we have to believe this will be resolved). Finally, the hybrid's battery pack reportedly interferes with the operation of the speed radar. Wait...this is a problem? Suddenly, the Highlander Hybrid sounds like the best police car ever. [Source: Vail Daily]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Keith 11:21AM (5/06/2008)
The other problem is the durability of hybrid vehicles. Sure they have no problem for the average consumer, but as a police patrol vehicle this car will potentially take some serious abuse. Will the hybrid system be ready for a car chase that goes off road? I guess on the flip side a hybrid could probably just wait for the other car to run out of gas. That being said this is good step in the right direction.
Reply
rj 12:35PM (5/06/2008)
"Note: The Highlander Hybrid is not designed to be driven off-road."
http://www.toyota.com/highlander/features.html
The highlander, and Lexus clone are based on a car platform.
It is not a "truck" except for regulatory reasons (CAFE) it offers more utility than a car but less utility than a truck. Selling it as a car would lower their CAFE for cars and for trucks as it gets better mpg than their large trucks but worse than their cars.
Reply
Dan 3:28PM (5/06/2008)
Strange that you can't get winter tires for a Highlander as even a crossover SUV can except to see some snow.
I couldn't believe it at first, but I checked some catalogs and sure enough, the only winter tire in size 245/65R17 is the Bridgestone Blizzak, estimated availability 8/15/08.
Reply
Kevin Nugent 6:24PM (5/06/2008)
I just hope that these hybrids dont fall out as someone earlier said. Police duty is very hard on the cars especially flooring it from a dead stop to 80 miles per hour 40 or more times a day . During the life of a car in police duty they replace the engine atleast once possibly twice. But in any even these are greener and will really give Toyota a true test of build quality in a demanding field
Reply
TIMMAH! 6:33PM (5/06/2008)
"Aspen! Hell no! I hate the French!"
Reply
1985 Gripen 7:58PM (5/06/2008)
For years Aspen and Vail police departments used FWD Saab 9000 passenger sedans (they can be seen in the film "Dumb and Dumber") which worked fine for them. Then someone sold them on the idea they need 4WD. So they went to the gas-guzzling Volvo XC90 SUV because Volvo sold them on the line it's "eco-friendly" due to the fact the radiator has a coating on it that eats ozone.
Now they're switching to the 4WD Highlander Hybrid which is neither designed for off-road usage nor is compatible with their electrical needs (and interferes with some of their wireless systems). Maybe they don't need them for off-road use but want the 4WD for icy and snow conditions? Too bad they don't even have snow tires that'll fit in that case. Also, batteries are known to be really poor in cold-weather environments. Good luck with that.
They should switch to an ethanol-capable AWD crossover like the Saab 9-4X. Running on E85 it would consume less gasoline and emit fewer net greenhouse gases than the Toyota Highlander Hybrid.
Or failing that, there's the coming-soon American-made V6 turbodiesel-powered E7 from Carbon Motors (though I think it's RWD):
http://www.wired.com/cars/futuretransport/magazine/16-03/pl_motor
Reply
davidt70 7:05PM (5/07/2008)
I think police cars probably get a similar amount of abuse as NYC cabs and the NY fleet of hybrid Escapes is working great for them, a lot less problems then they thought. Besides that, it seems that Aspen might have and image problem when it comes to their vehicles- Saab, Volvo, Hybrid Toyota? While I'm all for free choice, and I drive a foreign car, I think government agencies should probably look at American vehicles first.
Reply