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The Green Patrol
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| The South Park Business Improvement District last week unveiled three electric vehicles that will patrol the 22-block area. Photo by Gary Leonard. |
Electric Vehicles Report for Duty In the South Park BID
by Richard Guzmán
Zipping on Figueroa Street at a brisk 20 miles per hour, and with the look of an aerodynamic golf cart, the South Park Business Improvement District's new electric vehicles turned a lot of heads last week, especially with a council member riding shotgun.
Grabbing hold of the vehicle's loudspeaker system, Ninth District Councilwoman Jan Perry gave an impromptu shout-out to pedestrians as she test-rode the BID's new patrol cars last Tuesday.
"Good afternoon everybody," she said to people on the street through the loudspeaker system as she whizzed by in the silent, zero-emissions vehicle.
Afterward, Perry was full of praise for the cars that cost $8,900 each, about one-third the price of the BID's current truck. It will eventually replace the gas-powered truck and save an estimated $3,200 annually in gas costs, said South Park BID Executive Director Mike Pfeiffer.
"It was very exciting. It was nice to be in a vehicle that's so fuel-efficient," Perry said after the test ride. "They'll be able to get anywhere within the boundaries of the Business Improvement District in an efficient way, and I think they're setting a really good example. They're attractive, they attract attention, and you'll have your own community identity.
"Does it come with a CD player?" she asked Pfeiffer.
"Not yet," he answered.
The BID, which began operations in 2005, provides services such as landscape maintenance, sidewalk cleaning, trash collection and security. It operates in a 22-block area and is funded by assessments to property owners based on the size of their holdings. The BID, which has an annual budget of $1.2 million, encompasses an area roughly bounded by Cherry Street to the west, Grand Avenue to the east, James M. Wood Boulevard to the north and 17th Street to the south.
This month, the BID began utilizing the three HiLine Series XG Electric Vehicles, which were purchased from a Georgia-based company. Two of the cars are being used for safety patrols and the third for sidewalk cleaning and graffiti removal. The cars supplement the various BID bike patrols.
Pfeiffer said the idea to use electric vehicles came after visiting the Greater L.A. Auto Show held at the Convention Center in November. "We saw something like this on display and thought it was a good alternative for us," he said.
The electric vehicles can carry four passengers. Although they max out at 25 mph and can cover a range of only 60 miles on one charge, they are never far from home - they are plugged in at the BID's Hope Street garage every night for re-charging.
Environmental Steps
The electric vehicles are the latest addition to a citywide effort to "go green" and reduce L.A.'s carbon footprint.
For example, the nearby Convention Center runs on 20% renewable energy sources such as hydroelectric, geothermal, solar, biomass and wind power through a program with the Department of Water & Power. The building's solar panels alone muster enough energy to power 100 homes. In February, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa announced ambitious plans to create city and federal programs aimed at increasing environmentally friendly jobs and businesses in Los Angeles.
Pfeiffer said the South Park BID is working with the L.A. Conservation Corps to extend its recycling programs into the South Park community, and the vehicles are part of the effort. "It would not only save us money, but with zero emissions, it would give us a first step toward a more green community," he said.
The security vehicles can patrol during rainy days when bikes can't go out, and with average patrols covering 30-40 miles daily, they also save on human energy.
Abraham Torres, operations manager for the BID, said another benefit to driving the little cars is visibility.
"They just draw so much attention from people because they look different, they're unique," he said. "People like seeing them out here because they don't patrol fast. They go slow so it gives a lot of people the opportunity to see them and they can flag us down."
Indeed, in a quick spin around the block with Perry in the front seat, the cars drew repeated attention, with several pedestrians and drivers taking a second look, especially with the councilwoman on the loudspeaker.
"Good afternoon, hello," she continued to say to pedestrians as Torres turned the corner of Figueroa.
Then, she added, "You guys should be in a parade in this."
Contact Richard Guzmán at richard@downtownnews.com.
page 7, 3/17/2008
© Los Angeles Downtown News. Reprinting items retrieved from the archives are for personal use only. They may not be reproduced or retransmitted without permission of the Los Angeles Downtown News. If you would like to re-distribute anything from the Los Angeles Downtown News Archives, please call our permissions department at (213) 481-1448.
Grabbing hold of the vehicle's loudspeaker system, Ninth District Councilwoman Jan Perry gave an impromptu shout-out to pedestrians as she test-rode the BID's new patrol cars last Tuesday.
"Good afternoon everybody," she said to people on the street through the loudspeaker system as she whizzed by in the silent, zero-emissions vehicle.
Afterward, Perry was full of praise for the cars that cost $8,900 each, about one-third the price of the BID's current truck. It will eventually replace the gas-powered truck and save an estimated $3,200 annually in gas costs, said South Park BID Executive Director Mike Pfeiffer.
"It was very exciting. It was nice to be in a vehicle that's so fuel-efficient," Perry said after the test ride. "They'll be able to get anywhere within the boundaries of the Business Improvement District in an efficient way, and I think they're setting a really good example. They're attractive, they attract attention, and you'll have your own community identity.
"Does it come with a CD player?" she asked Pfeiffer.
"Not yet," he answered.
The BID, which began operations in 2005, provides services such as landscape maintenance, sidewalk cleaning, trash collection and security. It operates in a 22-block area and is funded by assessments to property owners based on the size of their holdings. The BID, which has an annual budget of $1.2 million, encompasses an area roughly bounded by Cherry Street to the west, Grand Avenue to the east, James M. Wood Boulevard to the north and 17th Street to the south.
This month, the BID began utilizing the three HiLine Series XG Electric Vehicles, which were purchased from a Georgia-based company. Two of the cars are being used for safety patrols and the third for sidewalk cleaning and graffiti removal. The cars supplement the various BID bike patrols.
Pfeiffer said the idea to use electric vehicles came after visiting the Greater L.A. Auto Show held at the Convention Center in November. "We saw something like this on display and thought it was a good alternative for us," he said.
The electric vehicles can carry four passengers. Although they max out at 25 mph and can cover a range of only 60 miles on one charge, they are never far from home - they are plugged in at the BID's Hope Street garage every night for re-charging.
The electric vehicles are the latest addition to a citywide effort to "go green" and reduce L.A.'s carbon footprint.
For example, the nearby Convention Center runs on 20% renewable energy sources such as hydroelectric, geothermal, solar, biomass and wind power through a program with the Department of Water & Power. The building's solar panels alone muster enough energy to power 100 homes. In February, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa announced ambitious plans to create city and federal programs aimed at increasing environmentally friendly jobs and businesses in Los Angeles.
Pfeiffer said the South Park BID is working with the L.A. Conservation Corps to extend its recycling programs into the South Park community, and the vehicles are part of the effort. "It would not only save us money, but with zero emissions, it would give us a first step toward a more green community," he said.
The security vehicles can patrol during rainy days when bikes can't go out, and with average patrols covering 30-40 miles daily, they also save on human energy.
Abraham Torres, operations manager for the BID, said another benefit to driving the little cars is visibility.
"They just draw so much attention from people because they look different, they're unique," he said. "People like seeing them out here because they don't patrol fast. They go slow so it gives a lot of people the opportunity to see them and they can flag us down."
Indeed, in a quick spin around the block with Perry in the front seat, the cars drew repeated attention, with several pedestrians and drivers taking a second look, especially with the councilwoman on the loudspeaker.
"Good afternoon, hello," she continued to say to pedestrians as Torres turned the corner of Figueroa.
Then, she added, "You guys should be in a parade in this."
Contact Richard Guzmán at richard@downtownnews.com.
page 7, 3/17/2008
© Los Angeles Downtown News. Reprinting items retrieved from the archives are for personal use only. They may not be reproduced or retransmitted without permission of the Los Angeles Downtown News. If you would like to re-distribute anything from the Los Angeles Downtown News Archives, please call our permissions department at (213) 481-1448.
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