Ford is Irelandoffering law enforcement agencies even more range with a brand new plug-in hybrid.
The new vehicle, officially named the Special Service Plug-In Hybrid Sedan, marks the first time the automaker has made a car that can run on only electric power specifically for police and other government authorities.
The car isn't meant for pursuits and beat usage like the Police Responder Hybrid the company showed off earlier this year. Instead, this is a ride Ford says it designed specially for police and fire chiefs, detectives, and other government personnel whose jobs don’t require a pursuit-rated vehicle.
Drivers will get an estimated 21 miles of range on the battery alone, with a top speed of 85 mph. Ford says that a level two charger will refill the battery in about 2.5 hours, but most authorities will likely be able to charge the hybrid using standard 120-volt wall outlet instead. Switching to hybrid mode and tapping gasoline will up the car's top speed and raise the range to more than 500 miles per tank.
The new vehicle looks like just one of Ford's standard Fusion hybrids at first glance, but specialized law enforcement options like a driver spot lamp and dash cluster dimming options for surveillance set it apart from the consumer version. The hybrid can also be outfitted with emergency light packages (seen in the photo above), which definitely aren't available in just any old Fusion to stop traffic on a whim.
Ford is expanding its reach into electric vehicle development, and the new hybrid is part of the plan. The automaker has pledged to invest $4.5 billion over the next five years on the new tech, with 13 new models planned for release by 2023.
Orders for the new Special Service hybrid begin in December, while sales will actually start next summer.
Topics Electric Vehicles
Philips now allows customers to 3D print replacement parts
Windows 10 facial recognition if fooled by security researchers
Chris Cornell's wife posts heartbreaking Christmas video
The best Netflix show you're not watching is coming back on New Year's Day
NYT Strands hints, answers for April 23
The International Space Station is having a very merry Christmas
One 'Star Wars: The Last Jedi' scene prompts an unexpected warning from theaters
The International Space Station is having a very merry Christmas
AMD Radeon RX 550 + Intel Pentium G4560
NASA has to pick between a mission to Titan and a mission to a comet
The 10 Most Anticipated PC Games of 2016
How Rian Johnson feels about that 'Star Wars: The Last Jedi' backlash
'Last Jedi' gets thumbs up from 89% of viewers, says new poll
Why you shouldn't worry about Apple's iPhone 'throttling'
Exceptionally rare radio sources detected in the distant universe
50 actually nice things from 2017
In 2017, blockbuster movies stopped taking humanity for granted
NYC bar really wants to teach people how to throw axes
Best Hydro Flask deal: Save $10 on a 24
What Cardi B's mega success tells us about the power of social media in 2017
Donald Hall’s Amanuensis by Wesley McNairThe Archive by Melissa ChadburnRedux: In the Latter Days by The Paris ReviewThe Art of Distance No. 12 by The Paris ReviewDonald Hall’s Amanuensis by Wesley McNairRedux: A Aries, T Taurus, G Gemini by The Paris ReviewThe Art of Distance No. 18 by The Paris ReviewWalt Disney’s Empty Promise by Kent RussellThe Other Kellogg: Ella Eaton by Edward WhiteThe Waiting Game by Hannah EwensThe Edge of the Map by Colin DickeyWhat Is the Word for Sky? by Nina MacLaughlinWhat Shape Is the Sky? by Nina MacLaughlinTexas History by Jill TalbotDonald Hall’s Amanuensis by Wesley McNairOn Translationese by Masatsugu OnoInto the Narrow Home Below by Darcey SteinkeRedux: Nor Staple Down to Fact by The Paris ReviewStalin’s Bodyguard: An Interview with Alex Halberstadt by John Jeremiah SullivanLet It Burn by Robert Jones, Jr. A Google employee's screed against diversity is going viral within the company Incoming Harvard freshmen class is the school's most diverse in 380 years YouTuber MKBHD gives us a look at RED's Hydrogen holographic phone 12 Chrome extensions that are pretty much guaranteed to improve your inbox 'Game of Thrones' recap: Season 7, episode 4 Disney sued for tracking kids who play its mobile games Google is building a killswitch that will force the internet to play by its rules NBC announces plan to create more opportunities for female directors You've been trolling Brooklyn Beckham's awkward tattoo for the wrong reason This under Tesla lost 63,000 pre Chris Pratt and Anna Faris are separating, release joint statement 'Aladdin' finds Jafar Robert Pattinson was totally joking about dog sex in his new movie 'Despacito' is now the most watched YouTube video of all time 'Game of Thrones' Stark family reunion made the internet happy Leave watermelons alone Incredible 'Witcher 3' cosplayer is our new hero This plane pattern is so meta it hurts Arya now has a Valyrian steel weapon, but where did it come from?