Civic Prii

Newton and Waltham go green with hybrids

Photo by Contributed
Waltham recently purchased three hybrid cars.

By Jeff Gilbride/Daily News staff
GHS

Waltham – As gas prices fluctuate daily area officials are shifting gears.

Three Toyota Prius hybrid vehicles arrived in Waltham on Tuesday, two of which will be used by the city Health Department and one by the Building Department.

Mayor Jeannette McCarthy said she ordered three cars for the city to deal with inflated gas prices and environmental concerns.

“Based upon rising energy costs and the fact that they are used in this city, we figured we’d get an economical model,” she said. “I would like to convert over more of our vehicles into more gas-economical, energy-saving (cars).”

The three vehicles, which are estimated to cost about $22,000 a piece, run on a combination of gasoline and electricity.

The Prius has an EPA-estimated combined city/highway rating of 46 miles per gallon and has nearly 70 percent fewer smog-forming emissions than the average new vehicle, according to www.toyota.com.

John Zuppe of the city’s Health Department said the new cars are a much-needed addition.

“We had to replace a few of our vehicles … they were almost junk status,” Zuppe said. “We use them for inspectional purposes. One is assigned to me and the other is assigned the Chief Food Services Inspector Bob Gatley.”

According to Zuppe, city employees who use city-issued vehicles are required to keep track of their mileage.

“We run between 6,000 and 8,000 miles a year and that’s citywide or if we are going to other communities for conferences,” he said. “With that amount of use, it makes sense to have a smaller vehicle.”

Zuppe said the hybrid vehicles are the right choice for Waltham.

“I think it’s the right direction for the use we get out of them,” he said. “They are a nice car. I’m not impressed with the outside look but I’m impressed with the car’s (performance).”

In Newton, fiscal and environmental reasons also led city officials to buy hybrids.
“The rising costs of fuel affects all of us,” said Newton city spokesman Jeremy Solomon. “In addition to the financial benefits, as the Garden City, we try to live up to that moniker with proactive environmentally sound policies.”

According to Solomon, the city will add another hybrid vehicle to its fleet in the next couple weeks.

“Mayor David Cohen has asked to replace his Crown Victoria with a more environmentally friendly (Toyota Prius), so we’re trying to accommodate that request now,” Solomon said.

Currently the city of Newton owns three Priuses, which are used by the city’s Health and Inspectional Services departments.

Jeff Gilbride can be reached at 781-398-8005 or at jgilbrid@cnc.com