Green Bay committee approves purchase of 18 Ford hybrid police vehicles; chief details warranty and mileage concerns

The Green Bay Finance Committee on Feb. 25 approved the purchase of 18 Ford hybrid police utility vehicles for a total listed in the packet as $1,000,000.5993, to be funded through 2025 borrowing.

Police leadership told the committee that prior hybrid vehicles presented two recurring issues: officer concerns about acceleration and a mechanical problem "in the interface between the battery and the gas powertrain" that has required expensive repairs. Staff said the department believes Ford has addressed the acceleration issue and that extended warranties will be purchased for the new units to cover initial battery and interface failures. "As long as we get the extended warranty to cover this mechanical issue that can happen, we might be able to get up to 5 years out of these cars," Police Chief Davis said during the meeting.

Chief Davis and staff explained the department accrues high engine-mile equivalents because squad cars are often left idling during shifts, leading to high wear: the department typically hits about 100,000 miles in three years under current use. Hybrid vehicles, the chief said, may reduce fuel use and engine-mile accumulation because of how they operate, and the department hopes that extended warranties plus changed usage patterns will allow a service life closer to five years for the new units.

Committee members asked about battery-replacement costs and whether the city mechanic shop could service hybrid systems. Staff said they have not had to replace a hybrid battery in their fleet so far, that manufacturers typically cover battery failures within the first 100,000 miles under warranty, and that the city mechanic and the dealer used for warranty repairs have sufficient experience with hybrids. The committee also discussed fleet levels and past under-bonding that reduced spare vehicle availability; staff said the purchase is intended to help the city return the patrol fleet to appropriate size over the next several years.

The committee motion to approve the purchase carried, recorded in the meeting minutes as unanimous.

Ending: Staff will finalize procurement details, confirm extended-warranty scope for battery and interface issues, and proceed with the purchase under the 2025 borrowing authorization.