Electric Police Cars: Is Green the New Black?
Electric Police Cars: Is Green the New Black?
The sirens flare. Blue lights flash. Traffic parts. A police car is inbound.
But as you glance over your shoulder after pulling aside, your lips part as you clock the green license plate…it’s not your typical police vehicle. It’s, in fact, electric.
Welcome to the era of the electric police car, where silent streets and zero emissions are guaranteed. Already, local and national police forces are quietly driving change, swapping diesel for EV police cars.
Today, we get into everything you need to know about electric police vehicles in the UK.
Do the police use electric vehicles?
It may surprise you, but yes, the police use electric vehicles. Not all, but more than you would think. In fact, it’s not just police services adopting electric vehicles, but the emergency services as a whole.
In just three years, the number of electric cars deployed in emergency services has doubled. Now, more than 1,000 zero-emission emergency vehicles are on active duty in the industry.
And the electric police cavalry is only getting started.
Take Gloucestershire police, for example—the trailblazers of the blue-light EV revolution. They were the first force to commit to a fully electric fleet, rolling out a blend of Nissan and Tesla BEVs. Now, they boast the highest percentage of police electric vehicles in the UK. Did you know that over 1 in 5 of their fleet runs on electric power? A shocking yet positive feat.
And they aren’t the only ones. The London Metropolitan Police Vehicle fleet has deployed electric vehicles, too. So far, 99 battery EV police vehicles are on duty. Seeing the value, the Met Police electric vehicle line-up includes the Nissan Leaf and Nissan e-NV200.
Ahead of the curve is also BTP. Back in 2022, the British Transport Police purchased 80 all-electric response vehicles. It’s said that at the end of 2022, one quarter of their fleet was electric.
Not to be outdone, though, by Scottish police electric vehicles. Police Scotland invested £25 million into creating the UK’s first ultra-low emission blue-light fleet by 2030 and an entire fully BEV police car fleet by 2025. Already, nearly 180 Hyundai Kona electric vehicles are patrolling the roads across Scotland.
Why would the police shift to electric cars?
Electric cars have undeniable benefits—zero emissions and cheaper running costs, to be specific. But police electric cars have their niche perks for the job.
Here’s why electric cars are becoming intertwined with police fleet strategy:
1. Speed meets stealth
Electric cars have instant torque. That means they’re quick off the mark, ideal for high-pressure callouts and rapid response.
A perp getting away? They won’t get far. Your lightning-fast electric car acceleration will help you catch them.
The added bonus? Battery electric vehicles are renowned for being quiet – sometimes eerily, otherworldly quiet. So whether it’s a stealth approach, secret surveillance, or slipping into a hotspot unnoticed, EVs are the ultimate undercover partner. Criminals won’t hear you coming.
2. Less downtime, more uptime
Believe it or not, EVs have fewer moving parts than an internal combustion engine. In turn, fewer breakdowns, less time in the garage, and more time to patrol. An electric fleet for police is efficient, with cheaper maintenance, too.
With charging infrastructure installed at police stations, your police car electric vehicles will always be ready and waiting.
3. Greener, cleaner policing
If police fleets goes electric, it will shrink emissions and help the UK meet their net-zero goal by 2050. Why? Because electric cars are zero-emission vehicles, so officers can reduce their carbon footprint while on the job.
People want to see police leading the way, and adopting an electric fleet is a window to a less carbon-intensive future.
4. Lower running costs
Electric police vehicles cutback running costs. Fuel costs? Slashed. Maintenance costs? Lower.
And with grants and support from government grant schemes like OZEV, electric cars reduce tax payers money and improve operations, all for a fraction of the cost.
Did you know that public sector organisations are eligible for the workplace charging scheme, too?
What models are used for police electric vehicles in the UK?
There is no chosen battery electric car for police fleets. It varies in location.
For example, Nissan and Tesla Model 3s are popular police electric cars in Gloucestershire. Alternatively, the Hyundai Kona was the choice for Police Scotland. On another note, the London Metropolitan Police trialled the BMW i3 for their operations.
But, certain manufacturers are gearing up – metaphorically speaking – to master the police force’s needs. One example is Toyota, with their tailor-made hybrid patrol car – the Toyota Corolla. Not only have they been crafted for police fleet usage, but additional features have been added to maximise operations:
- Dog guard for the load compartment
- Interior and exterior police lights
- Siren
- Radio system support
And more…
Are there any issues with electric police cars?
As with everything new, there can be teething issues. Recently, the PSNI stated that electric vehicles are unsuitable for carrying the weight of armouring. Truthfully, EVs are actually heavier than petrol and diesel vehicles. We won’t shy away from that fact.
Is this a concern? Unlikely. As technology advances, it’s likely that improvements will follow, and new electric police car models will be created for future fleets, similar to the Toyota Corolla, designed and crafted specifically for police fleet usage.
Summary:
In short, here are the following UK police constabularies that have adopted police electric cars into their fleet:
- British Transport Police
- Gloucestershire
- London Metropolitan Police
- Police Scotland
- Warwickshire Police
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