Page 9 - Volume 28 Number 2

an, first-ever pursuit-rated pickup
according to Ford, which equates to about $3,900 annually compared to a Police Interceptor Sedan. (Fleet managers can use an online calcu- lator at https://www.ford.com/fordpolicere- sponder to estimate savings.) Fewer fill-ups also means less downtime for officers, according to Ford.
Ford worked with its 25 Police Advisory Board
members to get input on the vehicle, and some
of the biggest municipal police departments in
the country are considering the addition of hy-
brids to their fleets or currently using non-patrol
hybrids. LAPD recently added 100 BMW i3
battery-electric vehicles to its fleet for non-pa-
trol work. In 2010, the New York Police Depart-
ment began buying retail Nissan Altima Hybrid and later Ford Fusion Hybrid sedans for patrol duty. The department passed along feed- back to Ford that was incorporated into the Responder. “Very de- pendable, low maintenance, things like brake life is greater, use less fuel, less oil changes,” said Robert Martinez, deputy commissioner of NYPD’s special services bureau, in the policemag.com article.
Special features of the Police Responder Hybrid include: front deflector plates to help prevent vehicle damage; heavy-duty suspen- sion; police-tuned regenerative braking system with 17-inch rotors and twin-piston calipers; police instrumentation with pursuit mode indicator; auxiliary power distribution box in trunk, plus rear power lug; load-bearing battery cover that provides extra storage space in trunk and 102.8 cubic feet of interior space, comparable to the Ford PI Sedan.
F-150 POLiCE RESPONDER
The 2018 F-150 Police Responder has the highest horsepower and greatest torque of any pursuit-rated police vehicle. Its 3.5L Eco- Boost® engine generates 375 horsepower and 470 lb.-ft. of torque coupled to a 10-speed transmission to maximize acceleration and performance. “Our new F-150 Police Responder offers police custom- ers both on-road pursuit and off-road capability,” Tyler said.
The F-150 Police Responder is built for police operations in de- manding conditions, with high-strength, military-grade, aluminum alloy in its body and bed which is bolted to a fully boxed high- strength steel frame. It can move officers and equipment to remote locations with a versatile 5-1/2’ box for cargo. A Class IV trailer hitch is standard, with a Trailer Tow Package available. Available transmis- sion settings include Tow/Haul, Snow/Wet, EcoSelect and Sport.
The F-150 Police Responder has 131.8 cubic feet of interior pas- senger volume — the most of any pursuit-rated police vehicle. Other F-150 patrol features include:
• A high-output 240-amp alternator for extended idle times and additional onboard electrical power.
Photos courtesy of Ford Motor Company
Ford revealed its all-new Police Responder Hybrid Sedan (above), the first pursuit-rated hybrid vehicle designed for urban or local patrol work. (Below) The Special Service Plug-In Hybrid is designed for police and fire chiefs, detectives and other government personnel who don’t require pursuit-rated vehicles.
• A patrol use calibrated speedometer. An engine-hour meter and engine idle-hour meter are standard equipment.
• Advanced brake system with upgraded calipers and brake pads with friction materials designed for police-pursuit applications.
• Payload capacity is 2,030 lbs. with a standard towing capacity
of 7,000 lbs., the best of any pursuit-rated police vehicle.
Ford plans to release another hybrid-electric pursuit-rated vehicle
by 2020. d
COStS
• The Police Responder Hybrid Sedan starts at $30,035. • Special Service Plug-In Hybrid Sedan starts at $35,620. • F-150 Police Responder starts at $42,515.
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The Police Officers Journal
www.polc.org • 9