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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Friday, May 23, 2014 | 10 Oakville Fire Department is getting leaner and greener by Julia Le Oakville Beaver Staff The Oakville Fire Department's Fire Prevention fleet is going electric. With four of its nine vehicles already replaced with a Ford Focus electric car, Oakville Fire Chief Lee Grant says the fleet is poised to become even leaner and greener. Highlighting the features of an electric car, which makes it suitable for the fire prevention staff's line of work, Grant told the Oakville Beaver during a personal test drive Thursday, they are being phased in over the next few years as the gasoline vehicles are due for replacement. "It was just the next natural step to be even more green and provide our staff REBATES ARE BACK! ACT NOW!! UP TO RECEIVE $ IN REBATES 2800 $1450 FACTORY REBATE UP TO + UNION GAS REBATE $700 UP TO $ CALL NOW, QUANTITIES ARE LIMITED! THE FORECAST CALLS FOR Was Per month 58 NOW ONLY Was $ AIR CONDITIONING & FURNACE DIAGNOSTIC SERVICE 29 ONLY + $650 OPA REBATE UP TO * Per month OAC $99 $ 49 HEATING & COOLING www.aireone.com · 1-888-827-2665 905-849-4998 905-632-0505 9 Locations To Serve You Better! A+ RATING *See dealer for details with the ability to do their job without any criticism around the idling bylaw," he said, noting how the fire prevention officers often go out to do fire code inspections, public education and also respond to complaints. "We're a lot of stop-and-go driving and we're often consulting with the public around the vehicle so it was just an ideal fit for us to be as environmentally conscious as possible." The move to integrating electric cars came out of an electric vehicle feasibility assessment the Town of Oakville conducted two years ago as part of its efforts to promote environmental initiatives that advance Oakville as a sustainable community. A small computer was attached to Town cars to measure the gasoline car's usage over a month and how it operates. Grant said the results of that survey revealed that electric cars were ideally suited for the Fire Prevention fleet because most of the driving is done in Oakville. The average electric car can run 100-150 kilometres before it needs to be charged up again, he said. Two of the new electric vehicles will be showcased at the Oakville Conserves Energy Fair taking place at Town Hall tomorrow (May 24) between 9 a.m.-2 p.m., officially introducing residents to the new fleet. Residents are encouraged to learn how to save money by conserving energy, check out innovative new energy-efficient products and find about sustainability initiatives at the event. Grant explains how electric cars are zero-emissions vehicles and don't have to be maintained as much as a gasoline car. "Interestingly in a year, we've put $142 into one of these vehicles, that's just the electricity that goes into it, and previously our fuel and maintenance cost was close to $5,000 a year," he said. Oakville Fire Chief Lee Grant `fills up' one of four new electric cars the fire department is integrating into its Fire Prevention fleet. | photo by Julia Le ­ Oakville Beaver (Follow on Twitter @halton_ photog or facebook.com/HaltonPhotog) see Oakville on p.15 Ugly seams on your pool's floor? For as little as Not with POOL LINERS $999* · Exclusive Ultra-SeamTM vinyl liner process makes floor seams stronger and virtually invisible! · Choose from dozens of beautiful designer patterns · Perfect for new pools and replacement liners · Costs no more than an ordinary vinyl liner! For a pool with seamless beauty! Find an Ultra-SeamTM dealer: ultra-seam.ca * Based on a 12'x 24' inground pool liner w/o installation - taxes extra