The police are plugging in. The City of New York’s Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS), which is in charge of procurement for municipal fleets, has announced that it now has over 1,000 plug-in vehicles assigned to law enforcement agencies.
Not all of these are cop cars. Yes, the NYPD has nearly 500 plug-ins in its portfolio, but the Big Apple has no less than 15 law enforcement agencies—including the Departments of Correction, Environmental Protection, Sanitation, Investigation and Homeless Services, as well as FDNY and NYC Emergency Management.
Collectively, these agencies operate around 11,000 vehicles: 781 are battery-electric vehicles, and 231 are plug-in hybrids. The agencies also operate 3,454 hybrid vehicles and 87 “off-road solar and electric units.” Law enforcement agencies currently have an additional 722 hybrids and 115 plug-in vehicles on order. The city as a whole operates nearly 10,500 electrified vehicles, including 5,780 plug-ins and 4,600 hybrids.
Law enforcement vehicles require specialized equipment, which can include bullet-proof shielding, light and siren packages, radio and computer outfitting, heavy-duty suspension and interior partitions. Agencies such as NYPD conduct rigorous testing to ensure vehicles can perform reliably in emergency response conditions.
The Chevy EV Blazer is the city’s first pursuit-rated electric vehicle. DCAS procured 58 Blazers in the first citywide order. The city’s fleet also includes the Chevy Bolt, Ford Mustang Mach-E, Ford F-150 Lightning, Chevy Silverado EV and Ford E-Transit. The Department of Correction has also launched the city’s first electric K-9 enforcement unit.
DCAS has some 415 DC fast chargers in operation, and more are planned.
“NYC is leading the state in fleet electrification with the largest electric fleet and charging network,” states Keith Kerman, Chief Fleet Officer and Deputy Commissioner at DCAS. “As importantly, we are showing EVs can work in some of the most challenging applications and assignments including law enforcement and emergency response.”
