Milwaukee County’s vehicle fleet is becoming more fuel-efficient, thanks to an infusion of Ford Fusion Hybrid vehicles unveiled at Milwaukee County’s Fleet Maintenance facility. County Executive Lee Holloway took delivery of the vehicles on behalf of Milwaukee County taxpayers.

Milwaukee County’s vehicle fleet is becoming more fuelefficient, thanks to an infusion of Ford Fusion Hybrid vehicles unveiled at Milwaukee County’s Fleet Maintenance facility. County Executive Lee Holloway took delivery of the vehicles on behalf of Milwaukee County taxpayers.

“With the delivery of these 35 fuel-efficient hybrid vehicles, we will see a savings of more than $14,000 in fuel costs in one year, County Executive Holloway said at the news conference. “Milwaukee County now has the largest fleet of Hybrid Ford Fusions in the state of Wisconsin.”

The vehicles will replace 35 aging out Chevy Impalas currently used in a variety of County departments that were driven a total of 332,500 miles and cost nearly $40,000 in fuel annually. The new hybrid vehicles are estimated to cost $26,000 to fuel annually — a 35 percent fuel savings – and will save more than 4,400 gallons of petroleum per year. The hybrids are also less costly to maintain due to less frequent oil changes.

“Wisconsin Clean Cities stakeholders are leading by example with today’s hybrid vehicle announcement. With this one action, they will reduce their dependence on petroleum, reduce their emissions, and encourage others to make the same kind of responsible smart decisions about meeting transportation energy needs,” comments Dennis A. Smith, U.S. Department of Energy National Clean Cities director.

A $70,000 grant from the Wisconsin Clean Transportation Program (WCTP) helped offset the additional cost of the hybrid vehicles.

The WCTP was competitively awarded $15 million in August 2009 through the U.S. Department of Energy’s Clean Cities Program and has leveraged $17 million in private-public investment. The program is funding the purchase of 376 alternative fuel and advanced technology vehicles for 35 Wisconsin fleets, and is fully funding the installation of 18 alternative fuel refueling sites. WCTP is administered jointly by the Wisconsin Office of Energy Independence and Wisconsin Clean Cities— Southeast Area.

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