The City of Aurora, Colo., is adding 17 alternative-fuel vehicles to its fleet this year with grant funding to help defray the cost of the vehicles.

The first three Ford C-Max Energi plug-in hybrids entered service in February as employee motor pool cars. Later this year, the city plans to purchase another seven plug-in hybrids, including three for the Aurora Police Department, three for the Aurora Fire Department, and one for the city’s Finance Department.

A Regional Air Quality Council (RAQC) Charge Ahead Colorado grant funded most of the city’s costs to upgrade from a standard gasoline-powered vehicle to plug-in electric hybrid, saving the city up to $8,260 per vehicle. This same grant also helped fund two electric vehicle charging stations installed in early 2014. Additional charging stations will be installed later this year.

The city also plans to buy seven compressed natural gas (CNG) bi-fuel Ford 4x4 Super Duty pickups: one for Aurora Water; two for the Parks, Recreation and Open Space department; and four for the Public Works Department.

The city applying for a RAQC Alt Fuels Colorado grant to help defray the cost of purchasingthe  CNG vehicles versus regular fuel vehicles, which amounts to up to $7,000 more per truck.

The city added its first alternative fuel vehicles as Toyota Prius hybrids in 2001. The vehicles continue to operate as motor pool cars.