In May 2011, the Raleigh Police Department put ten 2011 Crown Victoria bi-fuel (gasoline/propane--LPG) patrol cars into service at their North District Head Quarters on Six Forks Road. Over approximately nine months, the program has displaced 16,500 gallons of gasoline with a positive impact on the environment, as well as their budget. While in use, the vehicles are operating 90-95% of the time on LPG. The department and officers are extremely pleased with integration and performance of these vehicles. As a result, they have ten additional LPG patrol cars on order. All current vehicles have seen daily use since deployment. The only down time has been due to vehicle wrecks occurring in the line of duty which is common for the entire police patrol fleet. The incidents and severe duty cycle usage in the patrol environment have served as a good durability test. There have been no safety incidents or compromise of the propane systems, as a result of the incidents or in regular duty service. The vehicles are fueled via an onsite storage tank and pump. The equipment was provided at no charge from the propane supplier, Blossom Gas.
The Raleigh Police Department LPG project was funded in part through Carolina Blue Skies & Green Jobs, an initiative of Triangle Clean Cites/Triangle J Council of Governments with American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds provided by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Clean Cities program.
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