On an electric crook hunt
The Dutch police has taken the first steps in electrifying its fleet. The first electric police cars should be put into use in 2025.
The Dutch police are not only on the hunt for crooks, but also on the hunt for electric cars for their own fleet. Some of the so-called basic police vehicles – currently the Mercedes-Benz B-class – must eventually become fully electric. The police have completed the initial preparations for the tender for the new basic police vehicle. It is the first time that electric cars have been put out to tender.
By no means all basic police vehicles will become electric. There remains a section with combustion engines. Some of them will keep a conventional petrol engine, but cars with mild hybrid machines will also be added to the fleet. To avoid any delivery problems, the police choose to contract two manufacturers. There will be no electric vans, according to the police, the market for this has not yet developed far enough. The police vans will therefore have diesel engines, although the police say they have the door for electric vans ajar.
The new police cars will be included in the fleet from 1 January. As mentioned, there will first be a tendering process. According to the police, police employees who will actually use the cars have been closely involved in drawing up the Program of Requirements, which contains the characteristics that the cars must meet. Until March 24, 2023, interested manufacturers and suppliers can register for the assignment. The award decision will be made in May 2023.
.
– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl