As the rest of the world looks to hybrid powertrains to help eke out extra mpg at the pump, even law enforcement agencies are getting in on the trend. Adding an extra large battery to a police responder sedan comes with several benefits, all while keeping all the important gear needed to get the job done. Ford’s been providing vehicles to law enforcement since 1950, so it makes sense that the Blue Oval is getting ahead of the game with this electrically assisted four-door. We saw it on the show floor at the 2017 Los Angeles Auto Show and got a nice selection of exclusive photos, so read on for more details on this latest workhorse for the five-o.

Continue reading to learn more about what makes the Ford Special Service Plug-In Hybrid Sedan special.

What Makes The Ford Special Service Plug-In Hybrid Sedan Special

Based on the standard civilian-spec Ford Fusion, this Ford is purpose-built for police enforcement duty, from the exterior, to the interior, to the accessories. Under the hood is a 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder Atkinson-cycle engine, which is paired with an 88-kW electric A/C motor and 1.4-kW lithium-ion battery pack. Together, the combo makes upwards of 188 horsepower, matching the civvy-spec iteration in terms of output. Fuel returns see a slight decrease to 38 mpg, most likely due to the heavy-duty equipment. You can also put it into all-electric mode to save ever more gas when operating in a “non-pursuit” application.

At the end of the day, this Ford should save tax payers a few bucks when it comes to the fuel bill, while also enabling less downtime to fill up the gas tank, which equals more time on the beat.

To put a few numbers to the mpg savings, Ford calculated that the average police interceptor is driven 20,000 miles per year. With an average of 18 mpg, that’s 1,111 gallons of fuel consumed a year. By contrast, this hybrid averages 38 mpg, which equates to 526 gallons of fuel burned a year – a significant savings of 585 gallons of fuel per year.

What’s more, the average police car spends roughly 61 percent of its time idling. Cops can’t switch off the engine, as it’s required to power all the extra accessories (lights, radios, etc.). That means the car idles for almost 5 hours in an 8-hour shift. The hybrid helps quite a bit here as well, saving upwards of 966 gallons of fuel per year.

Put those numbers together, and you get a grand total of 1,551 gallons saved per year, or $3,877 in annual fuel costs assuming a $2.50 average cost per gallon. Then, of course, there are the environmental benefits, with the hybrid cutting a whopping 27,421 pounds of CO2 output per year.

Moving beyond the fuel savings, the Ford hybrid is ready for action thanks to a heavy-duty suspension system. As a pursuit-rated vehicle, its been tested for an 8.0-inch curb impact, 30-mph railroad crossing, and reverse J-turn maneuvers. It can also traverse up to 18 inches of water at 15 mph, and 10 inches of water at 40 mph.

Of front, you’ll notice the sizable ramming bar, perfect for performing a pit maneuver on a perp who’s unwilling to pull over. There’s also the requisite black and white exterior graphics.

Step into the cabin, and you’ll find slim seat bolsters for the front seats, which helps to accommodate the standard police duty belt. The seats are also covered in wear-friendly cloth upholstery, and there are anti-stab plates inside the seats to protect against unruly rear-seated passengers. In back, there’s heavy-duty, stain-resistant vinyl for the rear seats and floor, while the console gets a custom plate for easy mounting of whatever gear might be needed. There’s also an auxiliary power distribution box in the trunk.

Optional gear includes a driver’s side spot lamp, ballistic door panels, noise suppression bonds, and a storage vault in the trunk. Several lighting packages are offered as well, with red and blue up top and in the nose.

References

Ford Fusion

Read our full review on the 2017 Ford Fusion.

Read more 2017 Los Angeles Auto Show news.