London's Metropolitan Police have ordered 117 Honda Civic hybrids and plan to introduce hydrogen fuel cell vehicles to their fleet in the coming years.

Britain's largest police force will lease the fuel efficient vehicles from the Japanese manufacturer on a two-year contract in a bid to reduce the environmental impact of its patrol cars.

Combining electric power with a standard petrol engine, Civic hybrids produce low emissions and can achieve impressive fuel efficiency in urban areas. The 117 leased cars will constitute two per cent of the Met's fleet of patrol vehicles.

By 2010, the capital's police fleet is set to include four fuel cell squad cars, powered by hydrogen and emitting zero CO2. London Mayor Ken Livingstone hopes that the Greater London Authority will use 70 fuel cell vehicles in four years' time.

Introducing police hybrid models is a step toward this green goal, according to Met's director of transport services, Stuart Middleton.

The Civic hybrids "meet police requirements and at the same time fulfil social responsibility to try and make our fleet of vehicles as green as possible," he said. "The police, like many other like-minded people, want to do their bit."


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