TAMPA, FL – Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio has put forth a pilot hybrid vehicle replacement program directing the municipality to begin with the purchase of 10 Ford Escape Hybrids, according to the Tampa Bay Business Journal. The Growth Management and Development Services Department will test four of the Escape Hybrids and the Code Enforcement Department will test six of the vehicles. The move comes just two months after Iorio signed on to the U.S. Conference of Mayor’s Climate Protection Agreement.

Although each Ford Escape Hybrid is expected to cost approximately $5,000 more, each car should realize a 25 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. The city’s pilot program could produce a savings of nearly $4,000 in gasoline costs per year.

The annual reduction in petroleum consumption of each Ford Escape Hybrid is nearly five barrels per year. With the city’s fleet replacement program on a seven-year cycle, the 10 cars in the pilot program will have a combined petroleum consumption reduction of more than 300 barrels. The city will monitor the progress of the pilot program and will look to purchase additional replacement vehicles as appropriate.