Safer and more efficient fleet vehicles arrive at Council

Western Downs Regional Council is at the forefront of innovation, with the first petrol-electric hybrid fleet vehicles arriving this week.

The first of four new Rav 4’s has arrived at Council’s Corporate Office in Dalby, with key features of the hybrid technology enabling them to be more fuel efficient, better for the environment, and equipped with the latest integrated safety features.

Council’s Spokesperson for Finance and Corporate Services, Councillor Ian Rasmussen said that Council had a three-fold approach in making the decision to purchase these vehicles that covered safety, environment and budget considerations.

“The safety of Council’s staff was the most important consideration due to the large distances that are often covered in one day,” he said.

“Secondly, we are always looking at ways to become more environmentally responsible and these vehicles mostly operate on battery power when driving around town, so they don’t generate any petrol fumes.

“Thirdly, these vehicles are a lot more fuel-efficient leading to reduced operating costs, aligning with our strategy of being financially responsible.”

The hybrid vehicles self-charge as they are driven so there is no need to plug into a recharging outlet.

Advanced safety features of the hybrid include a lane departure alert, a pre-collision safety system that also covers pedestrians and cyclists, road sign assist and traffic alerts.

The first four vehicles will be located at several centres across the Western Downs region, with more to follow as part of the scheduled fleet replacement.

Cr Rasmussen added that Council plans to seek hybrid and new vehicle technology in their fleet replacement program over the next few years, with a commitment to using local vehicle dealerships.

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