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Ford Escape Hybrid Applies for Lifeguard Duty



From taxi cabs to patrol vehicles, and even doing duty as a research and
Ford has built a fleet of 45 custom Escape Hybrids for the LA Coast Guard. (Photo: Ford)
development vehicle for plug-in hybrids, Ford's Escape Hybrid has filled just about every role imaginable - or so we thought. Now, the world's greenest sport utility vehicle has a new job at the beach, helping Los Angeles County's Ocean Lifeguards.

The basic premise behind purchasing a fleet of 45 Escape Hybrids was to reduce the lifeguard fleet's carbon footprint without losing the capabilities of their current vehicles - compact pickup trucks.

"We are the largest lifeguard organization in the world, and we have always blazed the trail for the profession," said Mike Frazer, chief, Lifeguard Services, Los Angeles County Fire Department. "We wanted to be the first public safety agency in the country to go green."

The little SUVs, which have been painted in the lifeguard yellow and black
Custom-fitted interior helps to keep things neat and organized on the inside. (Photo: Ford)
color scheme, are essentially stock, but have been modified in a couple of ways to enhance their practicality. Overhead, each vehicle features a special roof rack that holds flutter boards and floats, while the carpeted floor mats have been replaced by rubber ones. The center console has been gutted, and retrofitted with the necessary radios, while the “60” portion of the 60/40 split folding rear seat has been removed and replaced with an aluminum storage bin that's specially geared for carrying oxygen tanks, defibrillators, trauma kits and other safety kit.
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