Electric Cop Cars
It had to come to this sooner or later...
The new Ford Mustang Mach-E is now under some very close surveillance for use as a law enforcement cruiser.
By Doug Stokes
Mon, Sep 27, 2021 07:11 PM PST
The numbers that we’ve seen for the high-performance model of this all-new machine seem to put this one in good stead as a law enforcement pursuit unit- one that can flat get after it (whatever it is) in quite a hurry. Harboring the e-equivalent of 480 horsepower and 634 instant pound-feet of tire-tearing torque, the Ford Mach E is said to propel to 60 miles an hour in three and a half seconds. And it's just getting started.
Any e-car "range-anxiety" would seem to be much allayed by the fact that the great number of these machines will very likely come home - aka the police station - to rest and recharge after each shift. In jurisdictions where officers take their vehicles home after work ... a home charging system would keep the electric police car all juiced-up and ready to roll.
One harks back to the California Highway Patrol’s use of 5.0 Mustangs in the ‘80s and early ‘90s. Long-time “ChiPs” still tell stories of the kind of chases and (inevitable) traffic stops they made with those hot little Fox-bodied ponies with great enthusiasm.
Press Release From Ford
We've attached the entire Press Release below:
DEARBORN, Mich., Sept. 17, 2021 - Ford is paving the way for electric police fleets in America. As part of its more than $30 billion investment in electrification through 2025, Ford is exploring all-electric, purpose-built law enforcement vehicles.
To demonstrate that a vehicle with an electric powertrain can deliver strong performance and stand up to demanding police duty cycles, Ford is submitting an all-electric police pilot vehicle based on the 2021 Mustang Mach-E SUV for testing as part of the Michigan State Police 2022 Model Year Police Evaluation on Sept. 18 and 20.
Ford will use the pilot program testing as a benchmark while it continues to explore purpose-built electric police vehicles in the future. Law enforcement demand for all-electric vehicles is growing worldwide. Law enforcement demand for all-electric vehicles is growing worldwide. Ford last week introduced a new Mustang Mach-E police concept car in the United Kingdom that has police agencies lining up for a chance to try it out.
For law enforcement agencies buying Mustang Mach-E all-electric SUVs for applications where civilian vehicles are appropriate, Ford has released a police modifier bulletin that provides an overview of the electrical system of the 2021 Mustang Mach-E and includes recommendations on which model to choose, as well as advice on installing aftermarket accessories including auxiliary lighting, radios and computer equipment.
Ford will use the pilot program testing as a benchmark while it continues to explore purpose-built electric police vehicles in the future. Law enforcement demand for all-electric vehicles is growing worldwide. Law enforcement demand for all-electric vehicles is growing worldwide. Ford last week introduced a new Mustang Mach-E police concept car in the United Kingdom that has police agencies lining up for a chance to try it out.
For law enforcement agencies buying Mustang Mach-E all-electric SUVs for applications where civilian vehicles are appropriate, Ford has released a police modifier bulletin that provides an overview of the electrical system of the 2021 Mustang Mach-E and includes recommendations on which model to choose, as well as advice on installing aftermarket accessories including auxiliary lighting, radios and computer equipment.
“As Ford continues to democratize electric vehicle technology by making it available on affordable, everyday vehicles like the F-150 Lightning pickup truck and E-Transit cargo van, there is significant interest from law enforcement agencies across the country who are exploring how they can integrate electric vehicles into their fleets to improve total cost of ownership and reduce vehicle emissions,” explains Greg Ebel, Ford police brand marketing manager. “Our all-electric police pilot program will help to show that electric vehicles can deliver the performance, capability and productivity law enforcement agencies need.”
Michigan State Police is one of two law enforcement agencies that annually test new model year police vehicles and publish the results so other law enforcement agencies across the country can evaluate if the tested vehicles are suitable for their missions. The first day of testing will evaluate the vehicles’ acceleration, top speed and braking. The second day is devoted to vehicle dynamics testing to determine each vehicle’s high-speed pursuit or emergency response handling characteristics.
About The Author
Doug has a long and wide-ranging history in the motoring business. He served five years as the Executive Director of the International Kart Federation, and was the PR guy for the Mickey Thompson's Off-Road Championship Gran Prix. He worked racing PR for both Honda and Suzuki and was a senior PR person on the first Los Angeles (Vintage) Grand Prix. He was also the first PR Manager for Perris Auto Speedway, and spent over 20 years as the VP of Communications at Irwindale Speedway. Stokes is the recipient of the American Autowriters and Broadcaster’s 2005 Chapman Award for Excellence in Public Relations and was honored in 2015 by the Motor Press Guild with their Dean Batchelor Lifetime Achievement Award. “… I’ve also been reviewing automobiles and books for over 20 years, and really enjoy my LA Car assignments.” he added.