New power for squad cars
Updated: December 7, 2012
CHARLESTON -- The Coles County Sheriff's Department is giving their squad cars new power. A pair of propane tanks were installed in two cars on their fleet this week.
Deputies say using the fuel will save the department money. Money to fill the tanks comes from the county budget. By saving the department money, they're also saving taxpayer money.
"When you hear that you're going to take a 30 gallon propane tank and put it in the trunk of a squad car, the first thought that came to a lot of people's mind was you just put a bomb in the car," said Lt. Brian Huston, with the sheriff's department.
But after several months of research, they learned it's as safe, if not safer than gasoline tanks. The department equipped two dual-fuel squads with propane tanks this week.
"The car will start on gasoline, warm up for forty seconds and them switch over automatically to propane," said Huston.
Huston said it's not new technology, but it's new to the department. It's the first in the area to take advantage.
"Propane right now is $1.40 a gallon, which is a little less than half of what we're paying per gallon of gasoline," said Huston.
Huston said there aren't any noticeable differences in the way it runs and he hopes others will follow their lead in the future.
"It opens the door for any agency or department that would have a fleet vehicle that would look at wanting to capitalize on the savings of propane," said Huston.
One of the squad cars started patrolling on Wednesday night. The other hits the streets Saturday. It cost between $5,000 and $6,000 for each installation. But Huston said within about a year, the money they save on gas will offset those costs. About two-thirds of the expense is automatically refunded with federal grants.
Deputies say using the fuel will save the department money. Money to fill the tanks comes from the county budget. By saving the department money, they're also saving taxpayer money.
"When you hear that you're going to take a 30 gallon propane tank and put it in the trunk of a squad car, the first thought that came to a lot of people's mind was you just put a bomb in the car," said Lt. Brian Huston, with the sheriff's department.
But after several months of research, they learned it's as safe, if not safer than gasoline tanks. The department equipped two dual-fuel squads with propane tanks this week.
"The car will start on gasoline, warm up for forty seconds and them switch over automatically to propane," said Huston.
Huston said it's not new technology, but it's new to the department. It's the first in the area to take advantage.
"Propane right now is $1.40 a gallon, which is a little less than half of what we're paying per gallon of gasoline," said Huston.
Huston said there aren't any noticeable differences in the way it runs and he hopes others will follow their lead in the future.
"It opens the door for any agency or department that would have a fleet vehicle that would look at wanting to capitalize on the savings of propane," said Huston.
One of the squad cars started patrolling on Wednesday night. The other hits the streets Saturday. It cost between $5,000 and $6,000 for each installation. But Huston said within about a year, the money they save on gas will offset those costs. About two-thirds of the expense is automatically refunded with federal grants.
