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Mayor Greg Ballard, (R-Indianapolis), on using green fleets for vehicles to reduce dependence on foreign oil.
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-- going grain that's what Indianapolis is aiming to do is the first major US city to replace it's entire city fleet of vehicles.
With environmentally friendly ones so no gasoline Republican Greg -- -- the mayor of that.
And he joins us now mr.
mayor good to see you why did is now.
Well this is always been about national security to be I know there's environmental benefits -- this is national security.
-- keeping our troops home more about stop spending so much money to protect the worldwide oil infrastructure.
About a sending billions of dollars people who would do us harm.
About losing leverage and diplomacy all about that's really what we're doing this.
But in -- in less than ten years according to the International Energy Agency -- the US will be the world's biggest oil producer even bigger than Saudi Arabia.
And we should be virtually self sufficient.
When it comes to energy independence so.
That doesn't if we're already heading in that direction one -- just stick with -- gas line.
Well you can do that but you know there's worldwide demand for oil I mean China and India and other nations that either economies will still be growing.
We'll still be a lot of money heading toward those countries who do us -- -- over 70% of those.
Oil in the world's owned -- countries not by private industry and though a lot of those countries want to do us harm.
And so when you look at worldwide oil demand that's really something we have to look at you just can't look at I think domestic oil production of the price will still stay up.
And again lots of money will go overseas.
To people who would who would do us harm.
What kind of initial cost out layer you talking about for Indianapolis in what is -- breakeven period how many years before you break even on -- all these vehicles.
Well we're gonna replace them as needed -- that's over trying to do we're certainly gonna work with auto companies to try to get the best deal possible.
-- expect to see you save about 121000 dollars per vehicle over the life cycle of a car in an eight -- ten year period so we expect to save money along the way.
But we'll replace them -- as necessary and that's are really what we're trying to do in.
Sort of the sedans in the light trucks we'll do that as quickly as possible but we're also moving our our bigger -- if you will look the snowplows the trash trucks to compressed -- gas.
And into art is the technology -- full year are you gonna do all electric on say your car is he gonna do hi -- because.
I can hear even near city workers and I'm not get and that things unknown really get stranded at this give -- I think it's gonna run out it is not not happening -- -- -- Yeah actually I'm very pragmatic guy I would have done this the most I thought we were there technological you know wise.
In the plug in hybrid I think is a great bridge technology for all of this and I have we expect to do a lot plug -- in the near future.
I would I would -- the -- system the look at these because our set of these cars got to the point where they were just regular cars.
I had the pick up had they had the safety features and all that.
Then this would be the time to transition and -- we are there are now.
If you look at the cars that are coming out this in the near future we are there are now and that's -- -- made this move I would -- I've been studying this issue for a long time now as a goal for veteran.
I can get all of this.
But at the same time he couldn't move forward I could move forward as the mayor in Annapolis summit I thought it was gonna save us money.
And unless the technology was there and I'm suggesting everybody right now that -- there to make -- Not only for -- but really for individuals also.
And electric makes a city a lot more quiet trust me 200 -- -- -- Mr.
mayor good to say thank you so much for being here right ballot the mayor of Indianapolis.
Thank you.
