Toyota Motor Corp. (Torrance, CA) reported that the City of Los Angeles has increased its fleet of Toyota Prius hybrid gas-electric cars from 23 to 130. The original 23 sedans purchased last year for the city's motor pool, and regular use by departments such as parking enforcement, proved so popular that Los Angeles decided to buy more.
The gas-electric hybrids help the city achieve a "goal of having one of the cleanest, most-efficient, big-city fleets in the nation," stated the director of fleet purchases for the city, Jim Bonnville. Fuel economy and low emissions were the chief reasons Los Angeles is concentrating on hybrid vehicles for replacements within the city fleet totaling about 250 vehicles. Fleet vehicles typically last 7 to 10 years and each Prius costs the city about $22,000.
