Chevy Volts Invade NYC Police Fleet

Patrol units?

The reason police cars leave the engines running ALL the time: the power needs of the electronics aboard the cars. Radios, computers, cameras, transponders...

These Volts have the range extenders (according to the full article) which will take care of those electrical loads and are much more efficient than idling a high output V-8.

Environmentally friendly... Depends on how far up the ladder you want to climb. The energy is still coming from somewhere... Coal/Nuclear/hydro... Whatever the source. And the batteries will still need disposed of/recycled.

I think more patrols should be done using motorcycles if they want more efficiency(plus added maneuverability in congested locations). I'd wager that for every 10 regular patrol stops maybe 1 might result in an arrest requiring a backseat, in which case call in the EV van to haul em away.

I think they mean well with this, but unfortunately I believe that it's more of a publicity & Public relations move than a true environmental step.

I'm currently driving a '96 Honda civic, getting around 32city/36highway MPG (32 minimum MPG). Brand new CAT/o2 sensors ect...

While the 2011 Honda civic is getting 24 city/36 highway. I understand the emissions stuff impacting economy... but really???

Ten years prior, a Honda CRX from 1986 I've known to get 38city/45highway. We are devolving our milage...

Back in 86 getting 45MPG I would never have thought we wouldn't be already doing a couple hundred miles per gallon by 2011... must be political.