The City of Austin is buying 20 additional new hybrid Ford Escape SUVs to add to its fleet. The city put in its order to meet a government fleet deadline.

City of Austin

The vehicles will be divided up among five city departments -- the Austin Water Utility, Watershed Protection and Enterprise Department, Austin Fire Department, and Health and Human Services Department.

Eight will be bought this year and the remaining 12 are planned for next year.

Currently the city has 75 hybrid vehicles.

The total cost for the 20 hybrids will be just over $530,000.

The item will be placed on a future council agenda for official ratification