CONCORD, NH – The New Hampshire state police have agreed to purchase 46 Dodge Chargers, replacing part of the 300-car fleet of Ford Crown Victorias, according to the Union Leader newspaper. Each car was expected to save about $3,500 in gas based on 100,000 miles, but cost more to buy, yielding a $2,000 overall savings. That number will be higher since calculations were based on gasoline costing at least 30 cents less per gallon.
In the past, state police tried to replace cruisers after about 100,000 miles and three years. Today, it’s more like 120,000 to 140,000 miles and four years because of budget considerations, the report said. The Department of Safety ordered 61 Chargers in all, including those for state police. Several local police departments have expressed interest in buying their own.
The state is paying the car dealer $1.26 million for the cars. Besides one six-cylinder car, the other 60 vehicles will operate on four cylinders when cruising and switch instantly to eight cylinders when troopers need more power.