Into the mix – Hybrid technology gaining speed within Missoula government fleets

Peter Nielsen doesn’t have to say a word to start conversations on Missoula streets.

By ROB CHANEY of the Missoulian

Behind the wheel of a Honda Civic hybrid sedan, the city’s environmental health supervisor gets to preach some of what he practices. The car has the words "This gas-electric vehicle gets 45 mpg to help reduce pollution/Missoula City-County Health Department" printed in huge type on the sides.

"I’ve had people screech to a stop and want to talk about it when they see it," Nielsen said of the hybrid car. "This is our chance to lead the way on a good practice."

While most Missoula government vehicles have to be purchased through state-monitored buying pools, the county’s Water Quality District has enough budget independence to work outside the system.

"We bought it when we needed to replace another vehicle," Nielsen said. "We felt this was a good thing to do so we did it."

The Missoula County commissioners also have a hybrid Honda Civic. The city government has just one Toyota Prius, although it’s about to be replaced by a new model when its three-year lease expires at the end of this year. City Vehicle Maintenance Supervisor Jack Stucky said there are plans to add more as funding becomes available.

"It’s been a really great car, especially for an administrator’s car," Stucky said. "If I could just get them to push a snowplow, I’d buy a fleet of them."

The hybrids have gas engines backed up by battery-powered electric motors. The electric motor takes over when the car is idling or coasting, while the traditional engine handles acceleration and cruising. The combination means greatly reduced engine exhaust and increased gas mileage.

Stucky’s had his share of experiments with alternative-fuel cars in the motor pool. An attempt to use propane-fired police cars failed after numerous problems, including tanks falling out of cars, leaking fuel in trunks and the inability to store the vehicles in enclosed buildings because of the explosion danger.

Natural gas engines have also gotten a look, as have purely electric motors. Missoula’s cold winter climate has eliminated the electric cars, which Stucky hoped would work in the roving parking meter patrol vehicles. The jury is still considering natural gas.

But the gas-electric hybrid has been an ideal passenger vehicle, he said. The only significant maintenance problem it’s had in three years is its need to be regularly driven.

"If you don’t, the batteries discharge," Stucky said. "Other than that and a set of tires, it’s been maintenance-free."

The cars cost about $4,500 more than a comparable sedan. While even 45 mpg isn’t going to recover that difference in fuel savings over three years, both Stucky and Nielsen said gas prices don’t include the cost of air and water pollution.

This spring, the city will spend about $2,500 on biodiesel fuel for its street sweepers. The vegetable-matter-derived fuel smells a little like french fries cooking, Stucky said.

"It kind of makes you hungry when they go by," he said. "What I really wish they’d get is hydrogen-cell cars. Those would work just right in this climate."

Reporter Rob Chaney can be reached at 523-5382 or at [email protected]

http://missoulian.com/articles/2003/09/30/news/local/news03.txt