Ford Motor Company will bring the American love affair with hybrid vehicles “home” to Cleveland on Oct. 18 with a hands-on hybrid demonstration and a fuel-economy clinic for some of Cleveland ’s most prolific stop-and-go city drivers – officers from the Cleveland Police Department.

Ford’s stop in Cleveland is the kickoff of a 10-city cross-country “Hybrid Patrol” tour. Each stop will begin with educating police officers with a fuel-economy clinic and end by testing their skills with a best-mileage competition among the officers.

The Cleveland Police Department and Ford will also patrol Cleveland streets in the Mariner Hybrid and surprise local drivers “caught in the act” of demonstrating good gas-saving practices with free BP gas cards worth $25 each. Drivers will also be given additional fuel-saving driving tips for efficient driving practices.

“We chose police departments to raise fuel-economy awareness because of the thousands of gallons of gasoline patrol cars use every year in stop-and-go driving,” says Mary Ann Wright, director of Ford's Sustainable Mobility Technologies and Hybrid Programs. "With the Ford Escape Hybrid completing its first year in the market and new Mercury Mariner Hybrid arriving this fall, we're anxious to help consumers improve fuel economy too."

Consumer and governmental interest in hybrids has skyrocketed with the dramatic focus on energy conservation. Fourteen percent of Americans surveyed the week of Sept. 16-25, 2005 said they will consider vehicles with hybrid power plants, according to AutoPacific, and new federal tax incentives for hybrid purchases will begin on Jan. 1.

In 2004, the Cleveland Police Department purchased approximately 585,000 gallons of gas. While the department purchases its fuel supply in bulk, based on Cleveland’s current average price of regular unleaded gasoline, $2.65 a gallon, by using fuel economy tips, the department could possibly reduce its fuel budget by $155,025.

Ford is also rewarding the department who has the most fuel-efficient police officer over the 10-city tour with a new 2006 Mercury Mariner Hybrid for the department. And beginning with Cleveland, Ford will donate $2,500 to the Police Athletic League in each city to fund programs that keep kids off the streets and out of trouble.