Ford has announced a new Police Responder Hybrid Sedan, a hybrid police car that gets 38 mpg but can also boost speed when needed for high-speed police chases.
Although police have been driving hybrid cars for a while now, these cars are not equipped to handle high speeds. The new Ford Fusion Hybrid has better engine cooling, stronger brakes, and a tougher suspension system, CNN Money reported, as well as being able to switch off battery power and maximize engine performance when needed.
One advantage of hybrid cars for policing is that the vehicles use little to no gas when idling, which makes up about 60 percent of the time police cars are in use, according to CNN Money. The new vehicles also are modified for police use with special front seat cushions that accommodate gun holsters and equipment belts.
Ford has estimated the hybrid cars will save police departments $3,900 a year each in gas savings.
Law enforcement groups like hearing about cost savings, but reliability is ultimately more important to them. The new vehicles seem to deliver both, with police agencies certifying that the cars are “tough enough to handle police pursuits for longer periods at different speeds and over obstacles such as curbs and flooded intersections,” Engadget reported.
Ford expects the vehicle to be the first to earn the “pursuit” rating, CNN reported.
Ford said the hybrid police car is meant for mainly urban use rather than highway pursuit, however, because it lacks a V6 engine and protection against rear impact that sometimes happens when cars are stopped on the highway.