May 10, 2006--The OCUA gets greener with the introduction of our first Hybrid vehicles

OCUA’s vehicle fleet gets greener with the addition of two Ford Escape Hybrid SUVs. The Authority has taken delivery of two Hybrid SUVs which were procured as part of the 2006 vehicle replacement contract. One of these new vehicles has been assigned to the Southern Division Director. The other hybrid will be used by multiple drivers from OCUA’s laboratory and make daily runs between all treatment plants to transport samples and also distribute internal OCUA mail. The intent is to evaluate the performance and economics of these two vehicles under different applications and then make a decision regarding their effectiveness.
     A hybrid vehicle is powered by two sources of energy, a gasoline engine and an electric motor. The electric motor is energized by a 300-volt nickel-metal-hydride battery that is located under the floor of the rear cargo area. The electric motor is a 65-kw model that works in conjunction with Ford’s efficient 2.3-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine. This combination can provide 35 to 40 miles per gallon fuel economy in the city driving cycle.
     A hybrid vehicle reduces our dependency on fossil fuel and reduces greenhouse gas emissions which contribute to global warming and air pollution. This particular hybrid, the Ford Escape, also uses regenerative braking. In a conventional vehicle the energy required to stop the vehicle is lost as heat through the braking system. In this hybrid, the energy used in braking acts as a generator being stored in the battery for later use.
     OCUA laboratory technicians who travel the roads of Ocean County 365 days a year will also have the benefit of an all wheel drive vehicle when road conditions are less than perfect. OCUA vehicle mechanics will be tracking gasoline mileage and maintenance costs to verify the efficiency of these new vehicles. Every reduction in fossil fuel consumption and reduction in air pollution helps the national economy and the environment.