HomeMy Public PortalAbout160_042_CRCWhiteBluffCaseStudy Case Study–Police Department of White Bluff, TN - Contact: Chief Mike Holman 615-797-
3131 or 615-425-8238 cell
Vehicle: Toyota Prius Type: Hybrid Drive Fuel: Gasoline, 87
Background
White Bluff, TN, a suburb of Nashville which has 3,219 residents and is very similar to Tybee in terms of
area, converted its entire fleet of 4 police vehicles to the Toyota Prius Hybrid over 2 years ago, and they
are now looking to add more. In conversations with Police Chief Mike Holman,the Chief emphasized
that they have been very pleased with the selection of the Prius: the changeover has gone smoothly on all
fronts and has slashed the department's fuel budget by almost 75%.Although there was some initial
reticence on the part of officers to move to a non-traditional vehicle, most are now very happy with the
Prius and agree that nothing else even comes close to its combination of versatility,room and low
operating costs, not even taking into account its environmental benefits.
Specific comparison data provided by White Bluff PD, Tennessee
• Top speed in their district 45MPH(same as Tybee)
• Vehicles in Use: 4 Toyota Prius Hybrids (2 more being requested this year)
• Average Fuel Economy: 50-52 mpg(compared to 51/48 City/Hwy on Cars.com)
• Maintenance: Included for 5 years, except for oil changes. Hybrid drive fully warrantied for 8
years/100k miles)
Rationale/Advantages
• Toyota has consistently ranked as one of the top car manufacturers for initial quality,
performance,reliability and vehicle safety. The Prius has been manufactured since 2004, so its
hybrid technology has been thoroughly tested and road-proven over a long period. Has won
numerous awards,including the NHTSA 5-Star Overall Safety Rating.
• Interior space is only 3/4"shorter and 3"narrower than the Crown Victoria. Chief Holman also
reports interior and cargo space are more than adequate for their needs and more flexible than
other traditional police vehicles.
• Fuel performance is optimum at speeds averaging less than 35 mph—which fits perfectly within
the profile of use on Tybee Island. White Bluff PD reduced their fuel costs from over
$30,000/year to approximately$8,000.
• Superior off-the-line acceleration and maneuverability. Before making their purchase decision,
Chief Holman and his officers test-drove the Prius to a top speed of 116 mph and took it to the
EVOC (Emergency Vehicle Obstacle Course)training where it"blew away"the competition.
• Hybrid Synergy Drive engine automatically cycles on and off when the vehicle is stopped while
allowing all systems to function fully(draws from large battery supply), saving on fuel and
carbon output.
Challenges
• Perception/Acceptance—"Doesn't look like a police car!"But Chief Holman and other police
departments report that this actually works to their advantage, giving officers an element of
surprise.
• Outfitting–Local vendor may not be able/willing to do,however there are plenty of other
vendors who can.
Additional Resources
White Bluff PD, TN, converts to Prius:
Boca Raton PD uses Prius for unmarked police cars
NYC uses Prius as police cars