The state of Ohio has announced that it will be downsizing its fleet vehicles — in terms of size, not numbers — in an effort to save money and reduce its carbon footprint on the world. The new plan will see the state replacing many of its mid-size sedans with compact sedans.
The new plan is expected to save Ohio tax payers $242,000 in the first year. The saving will come from a lower purchasing cost, as well as savings at the pump.
Right now, much of the state’s fleet consists of Chevrolet Impalas, which cost about $16,000 and get 21 mpg. Ohio plans to shift to the Ford Focus, which costs about $12,000 and gets 29 mpg.
“It says we’re living within our means and not sending one employee out in a midsize vehicle that could carry four or five,” Department of Administrative Services Director Hugh Quill told the Cleveland Plain Dealer. “And if we’re thinking green and thinking about our use of fossil fuel, the first thing we should be doing is focusing on fuel efficiency right out of the box.”
Compact vehicles only make up about 6% of Ohio’s current fleet, a number that is expected to grow to more than 50% in the coming years.
As the Cleveland Plain Dealer put it, “tooling across town on your way to pick up the quarterly reports just got a little less sweet and a lot more practical.”



01/25, 11:42 AM
posted by:
Z06ified
I’m surprised they’re not driving Honda Accords and Civics since Honda practically OWNS Ohio.
01/25, 12:24 PM
posted by:
SwerveEarly
Will they get i-sync?
01/25, 12:31 PM
posted by:
DeansterTJ
This is a great idea. Cheaper cars, less gas cost. Everyone wins.
01/25, 12:34 PM
posted by:
CTS DRIVER
makes sence, why drive a familu sedan to carry a small notenbook or clipboard? heck something even smaller than a foucus would work also.
01/25, 12:35 PM
posted by:
CTS DRIVER
“family sedan”
01/25, 12:54 PM
posted by:
RicardoHead
I think I’ll have 2 bean burritos for lunch and increase my “methane footprint” on the environment.
………….. (or is it maybe called a “methane assprint?”)
01/25, 1:12 PM
posted by:
AxeHead
Is anyone else getting stupid workopolis advertisements when you click on comments?
01/25, 1:35 PM
posted by:
AxeHead
Why not switch to Tada Acemobiles and really save the environment?
By the way, CO2 = plant food = more plant growth = more O2 = nice healthy environment contrary to knucklehead Gore seriously flawed hypothesis.
01/25, 2:00 PM
posted by:
Get Real
Go follow your brains and committ suicide.
You will do the best to save the earth, plus make fertilizer.
You evil CO2 spewing, home heating, water drinking retards in Ohio.
01/25, 2:00 PM
posted by:
CTS DRIVER
i dont get them ahehead and i use explorer.
01/25, 2:52 PM
posted by:
Badass Z51
From what I heard, state employees aren’t happy about the choice in car.
I don’t blame them, I’d be embarassed too, if I was seen in one of those things.
I have a solution that should make everyone happy.
What if the state tinted all the windows with limo black tint and equipt all the fords with bumperstickers that read, “it’s not my car! It’s the sataes”.
01/25, 6:19 PM
posted by:
CTS DRIVER
From what I heard, state employees aren’t happy about the choice in car.
Comment by Badass Z51, posted on January25 at 2:52 pm
.
they should get desk jobs then what the heck do they want…ferarris? fire them if the dont like it.
01/25, 7:57 PM
posted by:
1c3d0g
If they’re really serious about fuel economy, why don’t they use motorcycles? Even the biggest of ‘em sip fuel compared to any type of car. Only those employees who require a trunk to store big items should get a car, everyone else, learn to ride a bike or GTFO.
01/25, 8:33 PM
posted by:
RicardoHead
I have a solution for the whiny state employees: they can quit. It’s a car to transport people while at work – so the Focus is fine. They can either use the Focus, quit, or save themselves the “embarassment” and use their own cars at their own expense.
01/25, 10:19 PM
posted by:
autonut
I concur with Ricardo, except I am not sure that Focus will yield 29 mpg. I drove a renter few years back and mileage was pathetic. I also rented Impala and it is my favorite renter. Impala mileage actually is very close to 30 mpg (most recently drove it in western PA 90 miles from Ohio).
01/26, 7:09 PM
posted by:
AxeHead
Test
01/26, 7:11 PM
posted by:
AxeHead
Impala are great cars – built in Oshawa Canada – made me think again about domestic quality.
Ohio – melon head idiots who base decision on green politics vs science. Think about it – the only answer envioidiots can come up with is a socialst one. Anyone who values freedome should be pissed.
01/26, 7:12 PM
posted by:
AxeHead
Did a test cause I don’t think I can say environazi ??
01/26, 7:12 PM
posted by:
AxeHead
oops, suppose I can.
02/01, 3:10 PM
posted by:
jackjimturkey
R-Head: Funny.