When it comes to police vehicles, speed and power are certainly important, but they are only the start of a larger conversation.
A 2013 study from the Urban Institute, a Washington think tank, identified vehicles as a primary opportunity for police departments to reduce costs—without significantly affecting the work of law enforcement. “Police departments spend considerable amounts of money on purchasing fuel for patrol vehicles, which are almost constantly in motion,” the study authors stated. “Many opportunities exist for reducing fuel costs significantly without degrading police services.”1
The always-fluctuating price of gasoline makes specific savings estimates virtually impossible, but the study lays out a range of potential options through which law enforcement agencies can and have realized considerable savings. Chief among those options are replacing traditional gas-powered vehicles with alternative models and improving vehicle maintenance.
Several companies are turning out vehicles that give officers and police chiefs maximum flexibility—both in the field and in budget deliberations.
Big Savings, Smaller Packages
“Alternative vehicles” means a lot more than swapping out patrol cars for hybrid versions (although that might very well be a viable means of cost control in many cases).
Several companies are turning out vehicles that give officers and police chiefs maximum flexibility—both in the field and in budget deliberations.
Bicycles and Segways are well-known for delivering maneuverability and savings in relatively small packages. Another, similar choice gaining popularity are specialty vehicles, including those from T3 Motion, Inc., a technology company specializing in the public safety sector and headquartered in Chino, California.
These specialty vehicles are not just civilian vehicles with a different set of decals. The company’s two primary police vehicles, the Patroller and the Vision, were designed in close partnership with law enforcement, and that involvement is evident in the final product.
“The [design of the] T3 Patroller had police input from the start, so it was really made for the public safety vehicle market,” said Jeff Simpson, director of marketing communications for T3. “It was a solution-based build from the beginning… The dimensions of the vehicle, the functionality of the vehicle was done with input from law enforcement. The width, length, performance characteristics, and agility—it was all driven by law enforcement.”2
Perhaps the biggest innovation of the Patroller, though, is one particular characteristic. According to Simpson, it’s “the first vehicle of record to have an interchangeable battery and unlimited range use.” Referred to as a “hot swap,” the interchangeable batteries pave the way for around-the-clock use. Each individual vehicle comes standard with two electric batteries and a 110/220 V compatible, on-board/off-board charger. One battery can be charged while the other is in use, and swapping them takes “about 30 seconds,” Simpson said. This is what gives the Patroller what is, in effect, unlimited battery life, thereby reducing or eliminating “range anxiety” or concerns over the chance that an electric vehicle will run out of battery life at an inopportune time. “You can use it like a cordless drill,” said Simpson. “You have one vehicle with two batteries, and you’re charging one battery while the other is being used.”3 All taken together, T3 officials estimate that the Patroller can pay for itself in as little as 18 months.
On top of battery capabilities, the three-wheeled vehicle comes with a vertically adjustable headlight and a wedge-shaped front for use in crowds. The vehicle’s turning radius is small enough that it can make a U-turn in the space of a standard elevator. The Patroller is recommended for use in airports and other transportation hubs, malls and similar retail areas, government facilities, stadiums, hospitals, warehouses, and similar places. The Vision, which is essentially a smaller version of the Patroller, is designed exclusively for use in interior spaces.
One of the more hidden but important features of both T3 vehicles is their elevated base. The 9-inch elevated platform for the Patroller, and the 7.5-inch platform for the Vision help establish a command presence for the vehicle’s operator. This presence can help foster crowd control, but also helps in a public relations capacity.
“Police can see over crowds and over cars, and people can see them,” Simpson said. “They’re being seen, so it helps make them look more visible. It has a command presence, so it looks like a public safety vehicle. It’s being taken seriously, but also creating an approachability factor. There is a lot of curiosity from citizens and children. People want to take pictures with them and the vehicle. People seek out those officers, and it’s a very nice way for the agencies to connect with the people they serve.”4
Time-Tested Performance
Motorcycles have plenty of clear benefits for law enforcement, one of which is cost savings. They are less expensive than a standard automobile, but a well-made motorcycle can also cut down on fuel and maintenance costs over the life of the vehicle.
BMW is one leader in the public safety motorcycle market. Currently marking its 100th anniversary of making motorcycles, the company has more than 500 law enforcement clients, perhaps most notably the Los Angeles, California, Police Department.
Although BMW officials acknowledge that their motorcycles carry a higher price tag than those of their competitors, they also assert that agencies can recoup and even reduce costs over the long term.
“We have a team of engineers who do nothing else but work on motorcycles for the police,” said Frank Stevens, authority program manager for BMW Motorrad USA Police Motors, based in Saint Johns, Florida. “Every minute you can shave off of labor saves you time and money. We spend a few more dollars doing it, but you save money in the long run.”5
Whether agencies are seeking safer, more versatile, customized, or budget-friendly vehicles for their officers, it might be worth looking beyond the traditional patrol car for additional options.
BMW makes life a little easier for law enforcement agencies by equipping all of its bikes with equipment tailored for specific police needs. It’s also all constructed by BMW, making repairs less of a headache—and covered under BMW’s 36-month, 60,000-mile warranty.
“[BMW motorcycles] come standard with the highest amount of equipment,” Stevens said. “There’s a radio box, for example. We have an auxiliary battery system that recharges from the motorcycle, but shuts off when [the motorcycle] is not running. It runs all the electrical stuff like the radios and lights… It all comes through BMW, so it’s warrantied through BMW. You go to the dealer and fix it. There’s no finger-pointing as to who installed it and who pays the bill. With us, it’s not even a question.”6
BMW also has a recommended maintenance interval of 6,000 miles, “and even then, it’s only really an oil change,” Stevens said.7 Its performance in the meantime is top of the line, with top speeds meeting or exceeding 130 miles per hour—and recently being clocked moving from 0–100 miles per hour in 9.85 seconds.
Getting the Job Done
Vehicular needs go well beyond patrol. Several companies are working to offer solutions that help officers do their jobs better.
Sirchie, perhaps known primarily for investigative and forensics products, also manufactures vehicles for the law enforcement sector. This division, which is headquartered in Medford, New Jersey, creates vehicles for a range of purposes, from alcohol enforcement to underwater rescues.8
Mobile crime scene units are equipped with features such as onboard refrigeration, a digital crime scene camera, and uniquely keyed evidence storage lockers, all on a highly rated, heavy-duty chassis.
SVI Trucks, based in Fort Collins, Colorado, can construct mobile command centers based specifically on a customer’s needs. When Edmonton, Alberta, Canada’s police department wanted a new checkpoint vehicle, SVI built an aluminum truck mounted on an International 7500 SBA 6 × 4 chassis and housing a MaxxForce 10 350-horsepower engine. Inside, the vehicle featured a Samsung 40-inch LCD display, two interior phone booths, and a lavatory compartment, among other features.9
Before officers can get behind the wheel of a mobile command center or any other police vehicle, training is a must. That’s where Skidcar, a company based in Las Vegas, Nevada, can help—and it can mean big savings on training costs.10
Skidcar fits an ordinary vehicle with a set of “training wheels” that are controlled from inside the car and that simulate various conditions including wet or icy driving surfaces. The goal is to train drivers—whether they are driving a car, truck, or large SUV—to understand and react to external stimuli, without having to use expensive special pavements or treatments.
Whether agencies are seeking safer, more versatile, customized, or budget-friendly vehicles for their officers, it might be worth looking beyond the traditional patrol car for additional options. ♦
Notes:
1Philip Schaenman and Aaron Horvath, Opportunities for Police Cost Savings Without Sacrificing Service Quality: Reducing Fuel Consumption (Washington, DC: Urban Institute, 2013).
2Jeff Simpson (director of marketing communications, T3 Motion), telephone interview, March 16, 2017.
3Ibid.
4Ibid.
5Frank Stevens (authority program manager, BMW Motorrad USA Police Motors), telephone interview, March 8, 2017.
6Ibid.
7Ibid.
8Sirchie, “Vehicles.”
9SVI Trucks, “Edmonton Checkpoint Truck.”
10Skidcar, “Skidcar System.”
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