NYPD goes green with Nissan Altima Hybrids
According to the New York Post, the New York Police Department will soon begin a pilot program that would replace 40 of the city's police cruisers with Nissan Altima Hybrids. The initial investment in the gas-saving and pollution-reducing scheme is a hefty $1.1 million. As it stands, 18 units have been set up as fully marked patrol cars and 20 as unmarked cars. Two more are playing spy games disguised as yellow taxicabs.
If these cars work out well as police units, plenty of fuel will be saved. The current fleet, which consists mainly of large, rear-wheel drive, full frame Crown Vics and slightly smaller Impalas, averages between 16 and 18 mpg in the city. The Altimas are expected to get 35 mpg.
Given the shaky state of the U.S. domestic car industry, we wonder what kind of backlash there might be for using the Japanese cars, though they are assembled in Smyrna, TN. We know that police officers have proven an attachment to the old-tech cruisers that they currently use, and we'd be a little surprised if Ford isn't at least considering outfitting its new Fusion Hybrid for crime fighting. Thanks for the tip, Mike!
[Source: New York Post | Photo: Chris McSweeney]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Max 5:53PM (2/16/2009)
"Crown Vics and slightly smaller Impalas, averages between 16 and 18 mpg in the city."
That would actually be great news. 12-15 mpg in the city is closer to reality for a V8 Crown Vic idling in traffic.
The change to fuel-efficient cars is long overdue, and I hope Ford makes a Police version of its Fusion Hybrid.
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Mark 9:40AM (2/17/2009)
BAH there is a reason they bought Altimas. Its all in the discount. If the 9 Altibrids on the lot I work at are any indication of the sales for these things nation wide (in the few states they are offered), I'm confident NYPD got a GREAT deal.
Lexington 12:04AM (7/05/2009)
Great move going with the Altimas!! Who in their right mind would pick the WIMPY, SAD looking Ford Fusion as an NYPD vehicle? I mean take a good look at that geek mobile. New Yorks Finest deserves a bad-ass, stylishly aggressive looking vehicle and the Ford Fusion DOES NOT fit the bill. Ford Fusions are wimpy looking pieces of junk. Much better suited to sad and wimpy tree hugging LIBERALS.
No, no...Nissan has come a long way from the junk they were producing years ago. Apparently some here who have written about Nissan in a bad light have no clue how much Nissan Vehicles have changed. Altimas are built in Tennesse by the way. Not in Mexico.
Wise choice NYPD. You will see that the Nissan Altima Hybrid will be the right car for your department.
Captain Obvious 7:22PM (2/16/2009)
Why the hell didn't they buy American?? Considering, well, EVERYTHING --> how can they possibly justify a foreign purchase.
Somebody should get canned for this one.
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MikeW 7:48PM (2/16/2009)
Hey if Ford doesn't want to put a modern 6 speed automatic into the Crown Vic, you know to improve performance & mileage, than it is Ford's loss.
If Ford doesn't want to put a smaller/better engine (3.7 V6) with an 8 speed auto into the Vic so be it.
Yikes 9:26AM (2/17/2009)
You you say, why didn't they "buy American" do you mean buy a Fusion that is built in Mexico instead of the Altima that is built in the USA?
Kumar 11:32AM (2/17/2009)
Indianapolis took some heat for buying Camry hybrids last year. It came down to the bid and calculated fuel efficiency over the life of the car. I think it was the Malibu hybrid (mild) that lost out in their search for cars for their detectives.
Now I could see a Michigan city like Detroit catching heat for this, but not in most other states. Indiana has Honda, Toyota, Subaru, etc. employing people in the state, so they could all be fair game.
I just don't buy that argument about where the profit goes, when jobs at home are what matters these days.
dm789 1:41AM (2/17/2009)
Interesting, they choose Nissan, I thought they going to use the Malibu Hybrid since most of the new NYPD cars are mostly Chevy Impalas and Dodge Charger. I saw a lot of NYPD Ford Escape i am not so sure if they are hybrids though. But I can see New York City don't just buy one or two brand for their hybrid taxis they have
-Toyota Prius and Highlander
-Honda Civic
-VW Jetta (must be diesel I don't remember VW have hybrid Jetta)
-Lexus RX450H
-Chevy Malibu
-Ford Escape
-Nissan Altima
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joseph 7:52AM (2/17/2009)
Please, have you forgotten that The Japs and nazi's are the same people who are controlling the auto markets of their countries?? BUY AMERICAN< If you can find a thieving Bank to finance you BUY AMERICAN!! Shame on the Best Police Department on Earth !!
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Yikes 9:30AM (2/17/2009)
What do JAPS or NAZIs have to do with this.? Nissan is controlled by the FRENCH company Renault, and the Altima is built in Tennessee.
Chad 12:59PM (2/17/2009)
Joseph is a closed minded racist.
The fact is that Ford, GM, Toyota and Honda build their cars and the parts for them all over and have suppliers all over. That means that USA, Canda, Mexico, Japan, UK and Germany are building parts for all of these brands cars including the AMERICAN ones. No matter what you buy you are putting much needed money into the US economy.
The fact is that over 40% of foreign cars sold in North America are built in North America. Only 60% of AMERICAN cars sold in N.A. are built in N.A..
The american automakers would be in better shape today if they remembered the early 70's
http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article.cfm?articleid=2012
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Tara 2:29PM (2/17/2009)
That's great they are getting hybrids and so will be able to get better gas mileage, reduce pollution, etc. It's definitely long overdue.
As far as why they bought Nissan, who knows, maybe because it was the best "bang for their buck". With the economy the way it is, most organizations (hopefully) are shopping for the best bargains that fit their needs, especially when it comes to going green.
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james 1:02AM (3/02/2009)
thats good that they want to try these out to save money on gas, but the altima doesnt have the room needed for officers. the other hybrid model that the nypd is using is a gmc yukon (http://nycpdcars.50webs.com/nypd558.html). also if they outfitted the vics, chargers, impalas, etc that they have in their fleet to cng, it would be just as cost effective as buying brand new hybrid models. i know that ford has this option for the vic, but not many depts wanted to go for that esp when gas was cheap for a time
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Jay 12:20AM (5/01/2009)
Regardless of producer/profiteer
The fact is- NYPD needs fuel efficient, reliable, cheap cars
Whomever is able to do that best should be chosen for their cruisers
NYPD should not "deal" with the bs of poor gas mileage or a lesser car to please the public they have enough things to deal with already
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