PALM DESERT, CA — Officials have purchased three new Honda Civic Hybrid vehicles based on the success of a city experiment using a car that runs on gasoline and electricity, reported the Riverside Press-Enterprise on Sept. 1. The city began operating its first hybrid vehicle approximately two years ago to test its feasibility for city business. Since then, there is frequently a waiting list among employees for the vehicle’s use, Palm Desert City Manager Carlos Ortega told the Press-Enterprise. In nearby Palm Springs, approximately 250 of the city's 479 cars, trucks, tractors, and forklifts use alternative fuel, according to the Press-Enterprise. The city also has a Ford Escape Hybrid car, for use by the city's engineers.