Police Cruisers Could Save $3,000/year in Energy Costs

When the police arrive at the scene of an accident, they jump out to help and then spend several minutes in their cruiser doing paperwork. They have to leave the car idling so they can use the lights, radio, laptop and camera. Is running electronics with a car engine the most efficient way to power them? The Dallas Police Department thinks not and is investigating an alternative.

Energy Xtreme has been working with the Dallas Police Department to conduct a one-month trial of an electric power management system. The system sits in a police cruiser's trunk and powers the car's electronics. Then when the cruiser is driving,  the motor recharges the power management system. Energy Xtreme estimates that installing systems like theirs could save $3,000/vehicle per year and reduce CO2 emissions by 70 pounds/vehicle per day.

Last year I was a member of my City's Green Task Force. We talked about ideas to reduce the City's greenhouse gas emissions. One idea we bandied about involved transitioning over to more fuel efficient police cruisers in the future as the Police Department buys new vehicles. The idea was as well-received by City staff as a wet blanket on a cold winter night. The image of the police driving around in Toyota Priuses and Honda Insights chasing criminals just didn't seem tough enough.

I knew there had to be a brilliantly simple way to reduce the Police Department's carbon footprint so I resolved to keep thinking about it. Maybe this is it. I just sent an e-mail to my contacts at the City. I'll let you know what they say.