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It seems like we should be well past the point of small pilot orders of electric vehicles for police units, but this is somehow where we still are. While it may be a decade late, the good news is the Michigan State Police (MSP) has just gotten a 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E electric SUV to test out as its newest police vehicle. This is its first EV.
“The 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E is assigned to MSP’s State Security Operations Section to be used by state properties security officers, who are armed, uniformed members of the MSP who specialize in general law enforcement and security services at state-owned and leased facilities in the Lansing area,” MSP writes. I’m very tempted right now to rant about why this has taken so long and why dozens more aren’t being ordered (enough pilot programs have been implemented around the country by now that MSP doesn’t need to reinvent the wheel and can just learn from those), but I’ll refrain and just celebrate the good news now.
“This is an exciting opportunity for us to research, in real time, how a battery electric vehicle performs on patrol,” said Col. James F. Grady II, director of the MSP. “Our state properties security officers patrol a substantially smaller number of miles per day than our troopers and motor carrier officers, within city limits and at lower speeds, coupled with the availability of charging infrastructure in downtown Lansing, making this the ideal environment to test the capabilities of a police-package battery electric vehicle.”
Well, on the plus side, it’s uplifting to see people get excited about owning or leasing their first electric car. For many of us, that was so long ago that we almost forget what it’s like. It’s nice to feel the side effects of those good vibes a little bit.
The other good part of this is it could influence police purchasing beyond Michigan and the MSP. The MSP is an influential organization in the police world. “The MSP’s Precision Driving Unit is nationally renowned for its annual Police Vehicle Evaluation, in which they test and evaluate police vehicles from various manufacturers to include alternative fuel vehicles. The data is compiled and published for use by police fleet managers and purchasing agents nationwide.”
Good news, eh?
Without a doubt, the Ford Mustang Mach-E will perform well. Electric vehicles in police fleets always do, impressing the police departments and cutting costs. And who doesn’t love driving an electric vehicle with instant torque?
“We began testing battery electric vehicles in 2022, but up until now hybrids were the only alternative fuel vehicle in our fleet,” said Lt. Nicholas Darlington, commander of the Precision Driving Unit. “Adding this battery electric vehicle to our patrol fleet will allow us to study the vehicle’s performance long-term to determine if there is a potential for cost savings and broader applicability within our fleet.” Indeed. My crystal ball prediction: you will find there are significant cost savings and there’s broader applicability within your fleet. Enjoy.
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