“Up until now, hybrids were the only alternative fuel vehicle in the MS patrol fleet.”
Michigan State Police Public Information Officer Lt. Michelle Robinson says the department’s Precision Driving Unit has been annually testing battery electric vehicles since 2022 but decided this year that the 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E would be the first battery-powered vehicle in its fleet.
“They look at braking, they look at acceleration, they look at the durability of the vehicle and how it will work with the day-to-day operations that the troopers put them through.”
This particular Mustang is assigned to MSP’s State Security Operations Section. Armed security officers who patrol state-owned and leased properties in the Lansing area will use it.
“They have a substantially smaller number of miles per day that they drive compared to trooper’s outside on the road, so this will give us a good snapshot as far as will this vehicle be a good vehicle for us to put out into the field.”
Robinson says time will tell if EV’s becoming standard would save the department money in the long run.
