You see them everywhere.
But as time goes by, you won't be hearing them any more.
CityNews cruisers, those black and white vehicles we use to run from story to story, have long been part of the way we gather the news we bring you on both
Citytv and
CP24.
But while they're still that distinct black and silver colour you've seen around the GTA, they're now also green. Only you have to look under the hood to see it.
We're doing our part for the planet by switching to more environmentally friendly hybrids. It means less pollution and the chance to use up to 20 percent less fossil fuels.
"The entire
CityNews fleet will be green," declares Stephen Hurlbut, the V.P. of News Programming.
"As the leases expire we'll be looking for the best and most efficient hybrid we can get. We're saving on average, we believe, about $5,000 a year."
You can tell when one of the new cars is in use by what you can't hear. They don't idle and the motor doesn't run when it comes to a red light or a stop sign.
Hit the accelerator and the electric motor restarts instantly.
And with more than two dozen vehicles in the fleet, it will be a significant contribution both to cleaner air and the bottom line.
"It was an easy decision for us," Hurlbut assures. "It's the right thing to do for the environment, and it makes good business sense."
It's not just a slight break with the past. It's a clean break, as well.