City Buys 5 Hybrid Cars for Efficiency

Five “super ultra-low emission” vehicles will hit the road in Camarillo this week as the city makes its first investment in hybrid cars.

The Toyota Prius sedans, which cost about $21,000 each, use electric energy and gas. The compact sedans get about 50 miles per gallon and generate electricity by capturing surplus energy when the brakes are used, according to Steve Miller, the city’s fleet facilities manager.

Four of the cars will go to the Police Department for patrol and parking supervisor cars, with the fifth vehicle to be used by city staff.

Currently, 65 vehicles, mostly pickup trucks, are used by the city’s sanitation, water and street repair departments. Camarillo also has one electric vehicle in its fleet.

“We didn’t want to be on the cutting edge; we wanted something cost-effective and efficient to use,” Miller said of the new vehicles.

Each Toyota could save as much as 8,000 gallons of fuel over its expected service life.