Mayor Rybak Has New Plug-In City Car
Mayor’s Official City Car Uses New Fuel-Efficient Technology, Gets 70-100+mpg
Oct. 11, 2007 (MINNEAPOLIS) – Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak announced today that his official City of Minneapolis car is now a plug-in, gas-electric hybrid Toyota Prius that gets 70+ mpg of gas and could get as much as 100+mpg over time.
Although Mayor Rybak began driving a gas-electric hybrid Toyota Prius as his official city car since becoming mayor in 2002, he decided to pursue the newer plug-in technology when he learned of the dramatically increased gas mileage and to help support the emerging technology.
“The solutions exist for us to make a real impact on global climate change,” Mayor Rybak said. “Using new technology to protect the environment is not only the right thing to do, it’s the smart thing to do because it creates jobs and business opportunities for our community, in our community. It only takes willpower from government and business leaders to make it happen.”
Fully charged, the car runs only on the battery with zero fuel consumption in city driving under approximately 30 mph, for up to about 30 miles. While driving, the car battery charges from the engine and braking system and switches to gasoline fuel at higher speeds and longer distances.
Mayor Rybak’s plug-in hybrid car uses a Lithium battery that was built by A123 and installed by Hymotion from Ontario, Canada. The battery was shipped to Minneapolis and installed by Hymotion at the City’s Royalston Garage. To charge the battery, Mayor Rybak just plugs his car into a standard 120V electrical outlet and uses the stored electricity to power the car.
Minneapolis is Providing Leadership to Fight Climate Change
Although Mayor Rybak’s car is the City’s first plug-in hybrid, Minneapolis has nearly 100 government vehicles that are either gas-electric hybrids or use E-85 fuel. Minneapolis has expanded its alternative fuel fleet in recent years as a way to promote energy independence and reduce carbon dioxide emissions, the primary pollutant that leads to global climate change.
Mayor Rybak is thought to be the first mayor of a major American city to drive a plug-in as his official city car and Minnesota was the first state to pass legislation promoting plug-in hybrid cars.
State Representative Frank Hornstein (DFL-Minneapolis), who co-authored the plug-in legislation, praised the Mayor’s decision to pursue this new technology to fight climate change.
“Mayor Rybak is demonstrating how important technology is to fighting climate change,” Rep. Hornstein said. “Everyday, more consumers are demanding better, more fuel-efficient alternatives for their cars. This is sending the message that if you built them, we will come.”
Minneapolis has submitted a $2 million grant to the State’s Renewable Development Fund to install solar panels on top of City buildings like the Currie Station. These solar panels would help meet the City’s energy needs, including charging City plug-in vehicles like Mayor Rybak’s.
For more about Minneapolis’ alternative fuel fleet and efforts to reduce climate change, visit www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/sustainability/. For more about Hymotion visit www.hymotion.com.
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