Mayor Larry O'Brien, centre, flanked by councillors, is shown with an electric ice resurfacing machine. (Rebecca Zandbergren/CBC)Electric and hybrid vehicles could soon be used to resurface the ice in Ottawa arenas and maintain local parks under a new plan to make the city's vehicle fleet more environmentally friendly.

The Green Fleet Plan, which goes before the city's transportation committee Wednesday, includes 24 actions that are expected to reduce the city's greenhouse gas emissions by 3,000 tonnes — the equivalent of taking 740 vehicles off the road, said John Manconi, general manager of public works.

The vehicles are expected to cost a little more than conventional vehicles initially, but once operating, are expected to save $700,000 annually in costs such as fuel, Manconi said.

Currently, there are only a few hybrid vehicles in the city's fleet, including a Toyota Camry used by Mayor Larry O'Brien.

O'Brien initially rejected the idea of driving a hybrid car after being elected in 2006, choosing to use his own gold Mercedes-Benz instead. But on Wednesday, he expressed support for his official car.

"On the surface, the decision to use a hybrid for the mayor's car didn't seem like much, but as you can see today, that momentum is starting to build," he said at a news conference showcasing some of the green vehicles under consideration.

The City of Ottawa invited vendors to display a wide variety of greener vehicles Wednesday. (Rebecca Zanbergen/CBC)"We have hybrid-powered almost everything there for you to see," O'Brien said. "I'm particularly enamoured by the hybrid Zamboni."

Manconi said that while an electric ice resurfacer can cost $60,000 more than a regular propane- or natural gas-powered machine, the electric vehicle can reduce the cost of heating and ventilating an arena, as there is no need to remove emissions harmful to human health.

The green fleet plan calls for the cost of vehicles to be evaluated over their whole lifetime, rather than on the basis of their purchase price alone. It requests $400,000 for the purchase of greener vehicles and $500,000 to look at emerging green technologies such as garbage trucks that use hydraulic systems that store energy while the truck is braking.

Under the plan, Manconi said, staff hope to purchase 21 hybrid vehicles in 2010, such as Ford Escape hybrid SUVs to replace the city's pickup trucks.

City council is expected to consider in September a target to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to 30 per cent below 1990 levels by 2012.