Ford Motor Company is teaming up with the Los Angeles County Lifeguards to help save lives while protecting the environment. Ford recently presented the squad with the first 10 of a fleet of 45 eco-friendly Escape Hybrids with Intelligent four-wheel-drive, specially equipped for use on rescue patrol along dozens of miles of Southern California coastline.
The 45 customized Ford Escape Hybrid beach patrol vehicles, valued at $1.5 million, were provided through a sponsorship with Ford Motor Company. The new vehicles will be an all green fleet that can go up to 500 miles on one tank of gas. The Ford Escape Hybrid dramatically reduces smog-forming emissions, as it meets California’s Partial Zero Emission Vehicle (PZEV) Certified standards. The Escape Hybrid is a full hybrid, switching between electric and gasoline power to maximize efficiency and performance similar to that of a V-6 engine. Fuel cost savings for Los Angeles County are estimated at over $200,000 annually.
We are the largest lifeguard organization in the world, and we have always blazed the trail for the profession, said Mike Frazer, chief, Lifeguard Services, Los Angeles County Fire Department. We wanted to be the first public safety agency in the country to go green.