Grant Adds 12 New Hybrid Pickups to Falls Church City Fleet

The City of Falls Church has added 12 new hybrid pickup trucks to their aging fleet of work vehicles. The 2012 Chevy Silverados were funded by a $418,000 Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) Improvement Program grant. The trucks allow the city to address an important air quality and transportation project as expressed in the Comprehensive Plan.

Bill Hicks, director of public works, said the grant covered all of the pickups and the city didn’t have to pay anything.

"Staff is concerned where money goes," Hicks said Monday. "This doesn't take away from anything."

Karin Battle, the city's contract manager said the grant was submitted in 2008 and approved by council in 2011. She said the grant comes through VDOT and the process took a long time to complete. The vehicles will be fitted with the proper two-way radios and city decals one-by-one until they are all put into service. Hicks said there is procurement for a hybrid dump truck as well but no there is no time frame for when that may arrive.

Three of the dozen new hybrids are already on the roads, according to city spokeswoman Susan Finarelli. The new hybrids get 20 miles to the gallon in the city and 23 on the highway. The trucks use two-mode technology, which allow the trucks to operate on electric, engine power or a combination of both at low speeds with light loads, Finarelli said. At highway speeds or towing or climbing steep grades, the trucks use electric power in addition to four-cylinder or eight-cylinder power, she said.

Hicks said the trucks meet the needs the city has.

"Everybody is glad to update and recharge our fleet," he said.