Winston-Salem is set to take the first step toward a cleaner-burning fleet with the proposed purchase of eight hybrids and is scaling back a plan to buy dozens of all-gasoline pickup trucks while it explores alternatives.
City council’s finance committee on Nov. 7 unanimously endorsed a nearly $335,000 request for five Ford Interceptor hybrid police pursuit vehicles at $40,441 each, and three Ford F-150 hybrid pickups costing $44,226 apiece.
The hybrid shift comes two weeks after climate-conscious residents, including a citizens panel that advises the city on its sustainability efforts, criticized the city for its purchase of the police vehicles. While the gap is closing, price remains a differentiator between traditional and hybrid vehicles.
