Adding an Electric Patrol Car to Your Fleet
Electric patrol cars are making a big splash in the fleet industry as a way to reduce fuel costs and maintenance costs. They can also help protect against environmental damage and create a green image on-site for private security companies.
Police departments across the country are using electric vehicles as an alternative to gas-powered vehicles in their fleets. Here are five reasons why they may be right for your fleet.
Reliability
Reliability is a big deal to police, who typically use their cars for regular driving, as well as in pursuit situations. In addition, they often spend a lot of time standing or sitting in traffic.
That’s why many of them prefer to use EVs instead of gas-powered vehicles. Not only is it more environmentally friendly, but EVs are also more reliable.
While EVs are generally more mechanically reliable than gasoline models, they still need maintenance and upkeep like any other vehicle. That includes replacing parts, as well as a battery.
According to a Consumer Reports report from February 2020, the average life of an electric car’s battery is about 200,000 miles. As a result, owners of EVs need to replace them on average every eight years.
But EVs can be prone to faults and take longer to fix than their petrol counterparts, according to Which?, which surveyed 2,184 EV owners. The survey found that nearly one in three (31 per cent) EVs had at least one problem, compared to less than one in five (19 per cent) petrol vehicles.
This is not an uncommon issue for EVs, and it’s something that manufacturers should work to improve. Besides making sure they have a long-lasting battery, they should also be better at monitoring and managing the charging process.
Ford’s Mustang Mach-E passed a grueling test of its reliability at Grattan Raceway earlier this month, which shows that the car is capable of handling some heavy duty, real-world abuse. However, it’s unclear whether the Mach-E can take a couple days of routine thrashing, which is what police typically do with their squad cars.
Nonetheless, the fact that it didn’t have major problems during that testing makes it a safer choice than some other Ford EVs that have been tested.
The Sykesville PD, located in Maryland, bought a Model Y as its next patrol vehicle. It decided to make the switch after a year of research and analysis. It learned that a Model Y could last double the time of its current gas-powered fleet, reducing costs over time.
Safety
Adding an electric patrol car to your fleet may sound like a good idea, but it’s important to take a few steps to ensure that the vehicle is safe and practical for police work. First, consider the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards that require electric vehicles to have certain safety features. They also must be able to shut down the electrical system in case of a crash or short circuit.
Another safety factor is the vehicle’s battery pack, which must meet specific tests and must have 5-star ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. These tests ensure that the EV’s battery is capable of handling a frontal or side impact, as well as rollover crashes.
In addition, many EVs Electric patrol car have built-in safety features that help avoid a crash by shutting down the electrical system in case of a collision or short circuit. This helps reduce the chance of a car catching fire or becoming uncontrollable, both of which can be life-threatening.
Some police departments are already using electric vehicles on the road, such as the Fremont (California) Police Department. The Department has a used Tesla Model S that it converted into a standard cruiser.
The police department uses the car up to 11 hours in two shifts a day. The cost of the electric car, which runs on electricity generated from a local hydroelectric power plant, is significantly less than gas.
One of the most important safety features for any police vehicle is collision avoidance. This is a big deal, because it prevents an officer from running into other cars or people while they are on the road.
Other features to be included on future patrol vehicles include subject approach alert systems that warn an officer of someone getting close, and potential ambush warnings that alert officers to movement in the rear or sides of parked cars. These technologies will be a big part of future police patrol vehicles, says Steve Hammer, Chevy’s public relations director for the police brand.
There are also hybrid police vehicles on the market, such as Ford’s Hybrid Police Responder. These are pursuit rated and use the same engine as their gasoline-powered counterparts, but they’re powered by a hybrid system that uses the engine when it’s idle to keep fuel costs down. However, some experts say that hybrids aren’t practical for most police work. They don’t have the range of a fully electric vehicle, and they have to be recharged before they can drive more than a few miles on a single charge.
Range
Many EV users are concerned about the range of their electric vehicles and the need to charge them often. While this is a valid concern, it should be kept Electric patrol car in mind that an electric vehicle’s range will vary depending on its battery size and climate. It is also important to factor in the amount of daily use an EV will receive, as this will impact its expected range.
The Bargersville (Indiana) Police Department recently added a Tesla Model 3 to its patrol fleet, and the department plans to add two more in 2021. The town has a 240-volt charging station installed, and the first vehicle received was able to travel up to 230 miles before needing to be charged.
In addition, a software update from Tesla has given Model 3s more range as well. When fully charged, a Model 3 can travel up to 250 miles before needing to be charged again.
This will save the town money on fuel costs and maintenance, as well as help it meet its emissions targets for a cleaner environment. The city has been working on a transition to all-electric cars in an effort to reduce its carbon footprint.
Several other law enforcement agencies have made the switch to an all-electric patrol car as well, and they are starting to see benefits. The South Pasadena (California) Police Department, for instance, replaced all its old, gas-powered patrol cars with new, electric models.
Another California county, San Bernardino, is implementing a plan to convert its fleet of police vehicles to all-electric by 2035. During its investigation, the department learned that using an electric police car can help the county meet its emissions targets and reduce its fuel costs by up to $2,500 per year.
Finally, the city of Repentigny is currently experimenting with a Ford Mustang Mach-E, which will be converted into an electric police car. The company behind this project, Cyberkar, has years of experience in converting vehicles for policing and emergency services, so the department is confident that its work will be a success.
Victoria Police is also on the verge of making a significant step in its efforts to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels by introducing a Tesla Model X into its highway patrol fleet. This is the first time an Australian police organization has used an all-electric SUV in operational duties.
Cost
As a police department, you want your patrol car to be reliable and safe. Fortunately, there are plenty of options on the market today for both.
The cost of a new electric patrol car isn’t quite as expensive as you might think, especially when you compare it to the cost of operating a traditional gas-powered police vehicle. Some departments have already seen that they can save thousands of dollars in gas costs when switching to an EV.
For example, the Bargersville (Indiana) Police Department has found that they can save $6,000 annually per EV by reducing their fuel costs and other maintenance costs. This helps the department to pay for the vehicle in just 18 months.
Another example comes from the Sykesville Police Department in Maryland, which spent a year analyzing the cost of an electric police car. When they discovered that a Model Y would last twice as long as a traditional gas-powered police vehicle, they decided to add one to their fleet.
Ford is also working hard to make EVs affordable for police departments. It has a range of police-focused vehicles, including the Mustang Mach-E GT, which starts at $66,000 without any optional equipment.
These cars are great for highway patrol and have a long battery life. In fact, they can get up to 270 miles on a single charge.
When they’re not on patrol, they use only a fraction of their battery power. They’re also quick and responsive, which can help them catch up with suspects and avoid lengthy pursuits.
Finally, the batteries in EVs can be easily replaced as they age and break down. This is not the case with traditional gas-powered police vehicles, which have to be constantly refueled.
Many police departments are looking into purchasing electric vehicles as a way to reduce their environmental impact and save money on fuel costs. A small number of them are already doing so.
