Mustang Mach-E, courtesy of Ford
On Friday, veteran automaker Ford announced that it would be dispatching a purpose-built police interceptor prototype of its all-electric SUV, the Mach-E, to the Michigan State Police for real-world testing — reports Engadget.
Under its Police Interceptor program, Ford modifies its vehicles for law enforcement use, often retrofitting them with better brakes, improved suspension, and additional horsepower. The Mach-E is the next Ford vehicle to get the Police Interceptor treatment, complete with modifications inspired by its Mach-E GT variant.
Ford has also pitched Mach-E police interceptors to law enforcement agencies in the U.K., and the city of Ann Arbor, Michigan, has already put in two orders for the purpose-built electric vehicles (EVs).
This joint venture with the Michigan State Police will determine whether the Mach-E, with modifications from Ford, is suited to police work. EVs are quickly gaining traction with police departments and law enforcement agencies all over, with those that opt for them seeing significant savings in fuel, maintenance, and more.
Ford is looking to “use the pilot program testing as a benchmark while it continues to explore purpose-built electric police vehicles in the future”, which will prove instrumental in the legacy automaker’s plans to up its investment in EVs to $30 billion USD by 2025. Given how the ongoing chip shortage has hampered production at Ford, however, it could be some time before we see the results of this program bear fruit for the carmaker.
Back in July, automotive publication Car and Driver crowned the Ford Mach-E 2021’s ‘EV of the Year’.
