Ford claims to be the largest manufacturer of patrol vehicles. The most recent addition is a… [+] police version of the electric Ford F-150 Lightning.
Ford’s custom-built police vehicles are receiving many of the same advanced technologies as Ford’s mass-market cars and pickups, such as fuel-saving battery-electric and hybrid powertrains and driver-assistance features such as blind-spot monitoring and automatic emergency braking.
Read also: ClientEarth loses climate strategy court case against Shell | Shell
Lindsey Bertino, police brand manager for Ford Motor Co., stated, “We didn’t design it just for high-speed pursuits.” She stated that police cruisers can still perform this function, but they will increasingly operate on battery power.
In a recent webinar, she informed the New York-based International Motor Press Association that certain features are restricted to law enforcement.
Ford claims to be the foremost provider of police vehicles in the United States. Its primary vehicle is the 2023 Police Interceptor Utility, which is based on the 2020 Ford Explorer SUV redesign.
Ford claims its Explorer-based Police Interceptor Utility with a standard gasoline-electric hybrid engine achieves 41% greater fuel economy than its predecessor.
Anti-Stab Plates in the seat backs that can thwart a knife assault from the rear seat, and added high-strength steel to withstand rear collisions up to 75 mph, are exclusive to police vehicles.
Read also: The Unlicensed Weed Dispensaries King Declares War On New York
That’s more robust than the requirements for civilian vehicles, which are crash-tested up to 50 miles per hour, says Bertino. She stated that it is a regrettable reality that police vehicles on the shoulder of the highway are rear-ended at higher rates than other vehicles.
She stated, “We design it to keep everyone in the vehicle safe, whether they are in the front or the back.” “This is important to us.”
Another feature exclusive to law enforcement is Ford’s Police Perimeter Alert. It employs the same sensors as Blind Spot Monitoring in order to detect anyone within a 270-degree arc behind a parked vehicle.
It provides a visual and audible warning and automatically rolls up the windows if someone approaches the vehicle while the officer inside is preoccupied with paperwork, viewing a screen, eating, or simply taking a break, according to Ford.
Ford provides an assortment of police vehicles. Police Interceptor Utility vehicles are the most prevalent. Ford claims it is the first purpose-built police vehicle with a conventional gasoline-electric hybrid engine.
The hybrid is estimated by the EPA to achieve 23 cities/24 highways/24 combined miles per gallon. Ford claims that this represents a 41% advance over the previous Police Interceptor Utility, which featured a conventional 3.7-liter gas engine. Ford says the difference can save taxpayers between $3,500 and $5,700 annually in petroleum costs.
Ford’s new battery-powered, full-size pickup, the all-electric 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning Pro SSV, for Special Service Vehicle, is now available in a police version. In addition, the company offers the conventional Ford F-150 Police Responder model.
A police pilot program employs the Mustang Mach-E GT, which is powered by batteries. It features an extended-range battery and electric all-wheel drive; has an EPA-estimated range of 270 miles; generates 480 horsepower and 600 lb-ft of torque; and can reach 60 miles per hour from a standstill in approximately 3.8 seconds.
Bertino claims her family has a lengthy history in law enforcement. She stated, “Policing is more than just a job for me.” It is a trait that goes fairly deep in my family.
