Ford just revealed its new Special Service Plug-In Hybrid Sedan, framed as an efficient means of transport for “police and fire chiefs, detectives, and other non-pursuit law enforcement personnel.” It’s the first-ever plug-in hybrid police vehicle from the Blue Oval, and it comes with the gear to get the job done without burning too much of the dino juice.
Of course, Ford provides all kinds of models for use by government and law enforcement personnel, but as Ford police brand marketing manager Stephen Tyler points out, “This is the first Ford police vehicle that can potentially get through an entire shift using no gasoline whatsoever.”
Based on the Ford Fusion Energi four-door, the hybrid comes equipped with a plug-in 7.6-kWh lithium-ion battery pack, enabling a battery-only mode that’ll go 21 miles per charge on electron power alone. Top speed using just the batteries clocks in at 85 mph. Kick over the ICE, and the hybrid will offer over 500 miles of range. Keeping the pack topped off is a 3.3-kW charger, which manages a full charge in two-and-a-half hours when plugged into a 240-volt source, or 7 hours from a standard 120-volt source.
So then – what makes this thing uniquely equipped for police duty? For starters, the interior gets heavy-duty cloth and smaller side bolsters for rugged utility and increased comfort, respectively. The seats also include rear “anti-stab” plates for added security, plus an equipment-friendly reinforced top tray, a metal console mounting plate, red and white overhead lighting, an engine idle feature, unique wheels made from alloy, and an auxiliary power outlet in the trunk
Options include a driver spot lamp, a trunk storage vault, a trunk ventilation system, disabled rear-door controls feature, and a “dark-car” feature that kills all interior lighting for surveillance purposes. And of course, you can’t forget the requisite exterior emergency police lighting as well.
Order books open next month, with sales commencing next summer.
References
Ford Fusion
Read our full review on the 2017 Ford Fusion Energi.
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