Emergency services have introduced electric vehicles to their fleet, with battery-powered police and ambulance cars set to hit the road.
A Hyundai Ioniq 6 electric sedan has joined New South Wales Nepean Police Area Command’s vehicle fleet for use in their Crime Prevent Unit.
The sedan, which the manufacturer is loaning to law enforcement, will not be used in pursuits or road patrols.
Nepean Police Area Command explained that officers would use the EV for their ‘day-to-day business’ within the community.
‘Nepean Police Area Command took possession of a brand new Hyundai IONIQ 6, proudly sponsored by Hyundai Motor Company ,’ the command wrote on Facebook.
‘The vehicle will be utilised by our Crime Prevention Unit in their day to day business within the community.
‘We appreciate Hyundai Motor Company ‘s commitment in supporting our efforts in maintaining public safety and community engagement.’
NSW motorists will be able to spot it cruising the streets with the number plates ‘EV COP’.
Although the EV’s specifications have yet to be revealed, Hyundai offers the electric model in three variants with two batteries and the choice of rear or all-wheel drive.
The Standard Range model, with a 53kWh battery, claims a driving range of 429 kilometers. The Extended Range model, equipped with a 77.4kWh battery, claims a driving range of 614 kilometers.
NSW Police previously introduced a Hyundai Kona electric SUV in January 2021 for community engagement work.
Last year, Queensland Police added a Kia EV6 to its fleet of highway patrol cars, while in 2022 Western n Police started using a Hyundai Ioniq 5 and a Toyota Mirai hydrogen fuel cell vehicle.
At the time, Matthew Vanderbyl, assistant commissioner of Queensland Police Service, predicted EVs will be the future of police cars.
‘I think that’s inevitable, I think we see a really accelerating take-up of electric vehicles within the broader community and there are good reasons for that, and I think we’re no different,’ said Assistant Commissioner Vanderbyl in June 2023.
‘We’ve got operational implications that we have got to work through as well, but I think that we’ve really proven some of the earlier technology with hybrid and plug-in hybrid as well.’
In 2019, Victoria Police added a Tesla Model X as a highway patrol car. However, it is believed the EV is used mainly for promotional events.
Meanwhile, St Vincent’s Health Network Sydney incorporated an electric LDV eDeliver 9 to its fleet of ambulances at the start of the year.
Meanwhile in early June, Queensland Fire and Emergency Services introduced its first battery-electric fire truck to the Sunshine Coast fleet – a Volvo 6×4 FMX Heavy Duty Electric Prime Mover.
The EV fire truck was the second environmental purchase for the state, with a biofuel fire truck, powered by Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil, hitting Townsville.
QFES Commissioner Steve Smith said the emergency service aimed to reduce operating costs as well as emissions.
Both the electric and HVO-powered trucks will be trialled in a non-critical tier of response and operations, allowing us the ability to assess the benefits of the vehicles before adopting them further into the fleet,’ Ms Smith said in a statement.
‘There are about 500 heavy vehicles in the Fire and Rescue fleet and another 1030 in RFS [Rural Fire Service], so this pilot plays a pivotal role in shaping the approach we take towards the decarbonisation of our service.’