OKC Police Roll Out "Green" Parking Enforcement Cars

Attendants will now be driving environmentally-friendly electric cars while searching for parking violators in downtown Oklahoma City.

The Oklahoma City Police Department recently purchased four Wheego Whips. The two-passenger cars are powered by a rechargeable battery pack. The department said the vehicles may be small, but they have all the conveniences of a full-size car without the gas-guzzling costliness.

"The department had been looking for somewhere to introduce some environmentally-friendly vehicles into service," said Capt. Don Martin. "We found a model of vehicles built by Wheego that fit what we needed and provided the comforts, the security… and the size that we needed for parking enforcement."

"Based upon what we needed, and what these vehicles provided, it was kind of the perfect match."

When fully charged, the cars can drive up to 30 miles per day. They'll patrol areas in downtown Oklahoma City and Bricktown. There are six parking attendants, but only four of the Wheego Whips. The attendants will share the cars, rotating them daily.

The cars will supplement the current Go-4, three-wheeled vehicles parking attendants are currently using.