Vauxhall Ampera - electric police car with unlimited range

Vauxhall believe the Ampera is the first electric vehicle suitable for everyday use. Its sophisticated propulsion system offers performance driving and all the benefits of electric driving, without any range anxiety. The Ampera offers lively performance and crisp acceleration with a 0-60mph time of less than 9 seconds.

The new Vauxhall Ampera is especially suited to city-centre police patrols where the car can cruise on battery power alone (minimal emissions). But unlike fully electric cars, the Ampera can also employ the onboard petrol generator for high performance driving and longer range assignments - giving it a total range of up to 360 miles before needing to be recharged or refuelled.

“This car will help make police officers more efficient. It becomes their office and allows them to spend more time on the road fighting crime.”

- Dick Ellam, Vauxhall’s special vehicles manager

The Vauxhall Ampera police car can be equipped with a range of high-tech kit to help Police officers fight crime, including:

• Four external-mounted cameras for evidence gathering
• Internal camera for facial recognition linked to the Police National Database
• The standard Ampera display screen modified to provide all information currently available to Police officers, for example Automatic Number Plate Recognition
• A second screen mounted on the passenger sun visor to allow the passenger to access all Police information
• New Police software that has been loaded with previous incidents and historic data that is run through complex algorithms to predict potential crime hotspots

The Ampera and Chevrolet Volt (which employs the same technology) are also used by other police forces around the world including Berlin and New York.

"The largest-ever increase in the City's electric-powered vehicle fleet is not only good for the environment, it's good for city taxpayers, too... Using electric vehicles reduces air pollution and carbon emissions while also lowering gasoline consumption."

- New York Deputy Mayor, Stephen Goldsmith

The Ampera costs around £1.00 to fully charge, depending on tariff. But since it doesn’t rely on a public charging infrastructure for propulsion, it can continue to be driven normally on electric power if a charging point isn’t available.

On top of the cost and emissions advantages, the Ampera remains a thoroughly practical, everyday car that requires no compromise. It seats four adults in comfort and its hatchback design offers excellent practicality.

Vauxhall Motors Special Vehicles is currently the biggest supplier of low and intermediate Police vehicles in the UK. For fleets looking to reduce their carbon footprint, Vauxhall offers low emissions vehicles across its range under its industry leading ecoFLEX brand.