BROOKLYN, New York (WABC) — The NYPD is shifting gears to the future with a new fleet of hybrid cars.
On Thursday, the department gave the new vehicles a test drive at Floyd Bennet Field in Brooklyn.
On a course set up to mimic New York City's uniquely challenging road condition, the NYPD took Eyewitness News for a ride to test out the new fleet of hybrid vehicles.
"The hybrids have been great from a handling perspective, I think they handle just as well as their gas counterparts. From a performance aspect, I think they are great for our job and what we're using them for," said NYPD Officer Matthew Grilo.
These handling tests take place at Floyd Bennet Field, with officers accelerating, breaking and turning in the 140 new Ford Explorers, that will soon be seen at every precinct across the five boroughs.
It's part of a larger investment in more than 1,500 hybrid patrol cars.
Currently, more than 70% of cop cars are past their life cycle, requiring higher repair costs.
"Police vehicles idle a lot, especially in New York City. Our emergency response system works off the battery, not off the engine on these vehicles," said Steven Ciregna, Executive Director of the Fleet Services Division. "So, it really cuts down on idling time, cuts down on fuel usage, and it cuts down on emissions."
The NYPD says going fully electric is not an option because charging takes a long time, and the infrastructure isn't in place. And while the road test can be fun, it's still serious stuff. High-speed pursuits are restricted to the most serious of crimes because they can be very dangerous.
"We're all about safety, both officer safety and public safety. It also has the latest in crash avoidance. Blind-spot monitoring, automatic emergency braking, all things that are vital in a densely-populated area like New York City," Ciregna said.
Going green doesn't mean slowing down. The hybrids will be hitting the road on Friday.
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