The Feds Will Double Their Hybrid Fleet

Bertel Schmitt
by Bertel Schmitt

The Feds will get an additional 10,000 hybrids over the 10,672 they already have, lifting the federal hybrid market share from 5.3 percent to over 10 percent, the Detroit News says.

According to the paper, the GSA will fund the incremental cost to replace eligible vehicles with new hybrid sedans.

Allegedly, the move will save 1 million gallons of fuel per year for the life of these vehicles.

It was not released what badges the division-strength hybrids will carry. Seeking Alpha presumes that “General Motors and Ford will receive some home field advantage.”

Bertel Schmitt
Bertel Schmitt

Bertel Schmitt comes back to journalism after taking a 35 year break in advertising and marketing. He ran and owned advertising agencies in Duesseldorf, Germany, and New York City. Volkswagen A.G. was Bertel's most important corporate account. Schmitt's advertising and marketing career touched many corners of the industry with a special focus on automotive products and services. Since 2004, he lives in Japan and China with his wife <a href="http://www.tomokoandbertel.com"> Tomoko </a>. Bertel Schmitt is a founding board member of the <a href="http://www.offshoresuperseries.com"> Offshore Super Series </a>, an American offshore powerboat racing organization. He is co-owner of the racing team Typhoon.

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  • Redliner Redliner on Apr 25, 2013

    I for one think this is a good thing. Not every meter maid and code enforcement officer needs a V8 powered land boat.

    • Corntrollio Corntrollio on Apr 25, 2013

      "Not every meter maid and code enforcement officer needs a V8 powered land boat." Most of the meter maid types in San Francisco drive glorified golf carts. In Los Angeles, they usually have Civic Hybrids (I assume they're hybrids, or else it'd probably be a Ford Focus).

  • Dan Dan on Apr 25, 2013

    If these dorkwagons save money, which on any duty cycle other than parked 23.2 hours a day they do, it should be a crime to use public money to buy anything else. I'm unaware of a government position with duties that include driving a fast car that looks cool. Do that on your own dime. Now if only this could be applied to police, too.

  • Icemilkcoffee Icemilkcoffee on Apr 25, 2013

    seems like a handout to Ford. Ford makes more hybrids than the other 2 domestic factories. And political realities means that the government is unlikely to buy a Toyota Camry Hybrid, even if it is made in the USA.

    • 95_SC 95_SC on Apr 25, 2013

      You'd think so, but most of the new Hybrids I see rolling around the various army posts I frequent are Hyundais while the Fords are the base 4 cylinder Fusions of the previous generation.

  • Mandalorian Mandalorian on Apr 25, 2013

    And yet the CIA will still cruise around in loaded Escalade ESVs.

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