Alpharetta goes green with police cars

The city plans to drive the community into going green, starting with the purchase of six hybrid vehicles for its Public Safety Department.

Public Safety Director Gary George brought back a new request to purchase six cars used for administrators and investigators. A few weeks ago, City Council asked him if the department had considered "green" vehicles, such as hybrids. These six Toyota Camry hybrids get better fuel economy and have lower emissions of carbon dioxide than even the Chevy Malibu hybrid the department also considered.

"If the city is going to go green, lean toward lower emissions, lean toward green buildings, this is an opportunity to do that," George said.

The $158,424 price tag from Atlanta Toyota is higher than what the city would have paid for the Chevy Malibu, but the 8.5 miles per gallon better gas mileage of the Camry brings the total price within $1,000 of each other over their anticipated six-year life with the city.

Mayor Arthur Letchas has made going green a major initiative in his final term on City Council.

"This is one of the things we need to keep going down the road as a green community to keep reducing our environmental impact," Letchas said.

"I really think that the city can be a leader in this by going to these cars and showing good sense," said Councilman Jim Paine.

Council members were concerned about buying American-made cars, but George and his staff found the Camry is built in Kentucky.

While Finance Director Tom Harris was unable to provide an accurate resale value for the hybrids - the city will sell vehicles that have been driven more than 100,000 miles - George did manage to compare a standard 2002 Toyota Camry with a 2002 Chevy Malibu online. The resale of a non-hybrid Camry was approximately $2,200 higher, he said.
- www.northfulton.com

Sphere: Related Content