First Responders and Green Automobiles

More and more these days car manufacturers and energy producers are expanding their product lines to answer the demands of an increasingly environmentally conscious consumer base. As they do so, the solutions that they come up with produce heretofore unheard of problems for first responders when these cars are involved in accidents. For example, tunneling to a victim through the trunk was a relatively common method but now emergency personnel have to check to see that there isn’t a big hybrid battery back there first.

As with any new technology there isn’t yet a standard way of doing things. Dangerous or flammable chemicals are lurking in all sorts of different places on these new vehicles and first responders need to know every hiding place to protect the safety of the victims as well as themselves.

Extrication.com has gathered together a nice collection of links with hybrid safety information for first responders. With practical advice and information as well as links to hybrid manufacturer’s emergency responder information it’s definitely worth checking out.

Rolling In Style

The article Aspen police test hybrid patrol SUV over at AspenTimes.com is actually about the police force getting a new fleet. With rising gas prices and climate concerns this isn't much of a surprise. But a few paragraphs into the article we learn that the force currently drives Volvos and, before that, "sporty Saabs."

The hybrid pairs a V6 with an electric engine and gets around 26 mph. The article says that a main concern with the vehicle is whether the electrical compenents - computer, communications, radar gun, etc. - needed by cops will cause too much of a drain on the system.

Also, considering their previous vehicles, is it sexy enough? This is a force that likes to roll in style!