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Hybrid Cars Proving Popular With County Workers August 2004The county's public works department liked the four hybrid-powered vehicles it purchased in 2001, and next week it will talk to commissioners about buying a few more this fall when 14 vehicles in the county's fleet of 200-plus cars need replacement."We've had a really good experience with the ones we have, and the employees love them," said Dale Wendt, support services manager for public works. "I took one out for a couple of days when I had to check out some sites, and I got 55 miles per gallon. It was comfortable and fun to drive. The only disconcerting part is when you come up to a stop sign and don't hear an engine running." Although the initial cost of a hybrid vehicle exceeds the fleet price for a standard gasoline-powered mid-sized sedan by about $5,000, the long-term fuel savings, combined with tax incentives available to public agencies, cuts the extra cost down to well less than $2,000, Wendt said. "Our worry as a nation ought to be that fuel prices will continue to go up as Third World countries - especially China - become major users," Wendt said. "We want direction from the commissioners about what direction they want to go." The county usually runs its sedans at least 100,000 miles before the cost of maintenance becomes high enough to justify replacing them, he said. SOURCE: Register Guard | ||
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