Michigan State Police deploys Mach-E as their first electric patrol vehicle

[bbulkow]

https://electrek.co/2025/01/19/michigan-state-police-deploy-their-first-electric-patrol-vehicle/

Michigan State Police deploy their first electric patrol vehicle

If you'd like to see one town's investigation of EVs for patrol (teslas), here's a page with actual details of the plusses and minuses:

(warning: teslas ahead!)

https://www.almanacnews.com/police/...-dont-appear-to-be-patrol-cars-of-the-future/

Overall, a good read. Stuffs need to be more manual, the MachE might have done a lot better (moar knobz), but stuff like:

" Staff also found that future outfitting of Teslas for police patrol should include a checklist to ensure that voice commands are turned off and that the rear doors do not open from the interior ".

" City staff looked into modifying some aspects of these smart features to make the vehicles more appropriate for patrol use, but “the outfitter relayed that they attempted to reach out to Tesla but were not able to access or modify the central operating system,” - I assume Michigan Staties and Ford will have a better working relationship.

Our $100,000 patrol vehicles have been reassigned to code enforcement, I think. I don't think I've seen them around. Maybe they repainted them and sold them?

If you scroll down far enough to find the pie chart for CO2 emissions for city transport, you'll notice the outsized contribution by the police, compared to miles driven. I assume part of that is the vehicles, part is time spent idling, so an EV in that role would have outsized influence on CO2 footprint.

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[Pioneer74]

If you'd like to see one town's investigation of EVs for patrol (teslas), here's a page with actual details of the plusses and minuses:

(warning: teslas ahead!)

https://www.almanacnews.com/police/...-dont-appear-to-be-patrol-cars-of-the-future/

Our $100,000 patrol vehicles have been reassigned to code enforcement, I think.

If you scroll down far enough to find the pie chart for CO2 emissions for city transport, you'll notice the outsized contribution by the police, compared to miles driven. I assume part of that is the vehicles, part is time spent idling, so an EV in that role would have outsized influence on CO2 footprint.

Sounds like they need some Ford Lightnings.

Over the course of the program, police staff found that while “Teslas are useful within the department for patrol and non-patrol operations, (they) do not appear to be the ‘patrol cars of the future,’” due to officer safety concerns, lack of off-roading ability and limited space for gear, personnel and detainees.

 

[kpr711]

https://electrek.co/2025/01/19/michigan-state-police-deploy-their-first-electric-patrol-vehicle/

Michigan State Police deploy their first electric patrol vehicle

The 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E patrol vehicle is assigned to the Michigan State Police State Security Operations Section, and will be to be used by armed, uniformed members of the MSP specializing in general law enforcement and security services at state-owned facilities in the Lansing, MI area.

“This is an exciting opportunity for us to research, in real time, how a battery electric vehicle performs on patrol,” says Col. James F. Grady II, director of the MSP. “Our state properties security officers patrol a substantially smaller number of miles per day than our troopers and motor carrier officers, within city limits and at lower speeds, coupled with the availability of charging infrastructure in downtown Lansing, making this the ideal environment to test the capabilities of a police-package battery electric vehicle.”

This was not the Michigan State Police First use of electric. About a year or so ago, they were using unmarked Lightnings as patrol units on the interstates.

 

[Billyk24]

I had a chance to talk to officer Nick that runs their testing facility. He said the Mach E was the fastest car on their test track for a few laps and then it dogged. He liked it a lot and was considering one for the wife.

This is ok for Michigan as their officers are not allowed to chase. Low speed application is likely a good test case

When it comes to winter range once the car / battery are up to temperature cold has very little effect on range. If you preheat you can get very close to summer range ( maybe 90%) even in extreme cold. If you don't preheat like yesterday for me (it was -11 here) the car will severely limit performance

When it comes to winter range, cold air rushing along the bottom of the battery pack causes unexpected conductive heat losses, reducing range and dropping battery temperature to unexpected levels. Fixed it.

 

[nvabill]

This was not the Michigan State Police First use of electric. About a year or so ago, they were using unmarked Lightnings as patrol units on the interstates.

Lightnings, as in plural? I highly doubt that one, can you provide your source information please?

 

[Jerrytball]

They didn't, gotta do something to reduce drag on an EV so as not to hurt range too badly.

https://www.government-fleet.com/10204106/michigan-state-police-updates-iconic-bubble

We always called them state bulls up there in Michigan and they’ve never gotten rid of that gumball on top of the car. At least they’ve stayed classic I guess lol except for the electric car.

 

[GreaseMonkey]

We always called them state bulls up there in Michigan and they’ve never gotten rid of that gumball on top of the car. At least they’ve stayed classic I guess lol except for the electric car.

I remember them being nicer than city cops or sherif deputies. One time 20 years ago I was racing a wrx sti in my corvette near 96/69 intersection and I see a state trooper turn his lights on. I slowed down a bit from 155 and he caught up with me 3 miles later. Gave me a stern warning. Almost shit my pants thought I’d be going to jail.

 

[Jerrytball]

I remember them being nicer than city cops or sherif deputies. One time 20 years ago I was racing a wrx sti in my corvette near 96/69 intersection and I see a state trooper turn his lights on. I slowed down a bit from 155 and he caught up with me 3 miles later. Gave me a stern warning. Almost shit my pants thought I’d be going to jail.

Speaking of Corvettes watching the price is right at night. This guy just had to guess high price or low price on four items and won $133,000 z06 The game was simple. I couldn’t believe it.

 

[kpr711]

Lightnings, as in plural? I highly doubt that one, can you provide your source information please?

Easy there tough guy, my sources is observing them with my eyes on I94, actively working.
So, go get your shine box!

 

[nvabill]

Easy there tough guy, my sources is observing them with my eyes on I94, actively working.
So, go get your shine box!

Sorry to disappoint you but, the information you are providing is incorrect as the Michigan State Police have never used an F-150 Lightning for patrol use. Don’t take my word for ithere is the official press release from the MSP verifying that the Mach E is indeed the first battery electric vehicle (BEV) to be used on patrol.

https://www.michigan.gov/mspnewsroo...irst-battery-electric-vehicle-in-patrol-fleet

Now as for what you saw on I-94 that’s anybody’s guess, but, we do know it wasn’t Michigan State Police using F-150 Lightnings on patrol. ?

 

[Mach1E]

Sorry to disappoint you but, the information you are providing is incorrect as the Michigan State Police have never used an F-150 Lightning for patrol use. Don’t take my word for ithere is the official press release from the MSP verifying that the Mach E is indeed the first battery electric vehicle (BEV) to be used on patrol.

https://www.michigan.gov/mspnewsroo...irst-battery-electric-vehicle-in-patrol-fleet

Now as for what you saw on I-94 that’s anybody’s guess, but, we do know it wasn’t Michigan State Police using F-150 Lightnings on patrol. ?

He did say they were “unmarked.”

Maybe the article is just so they don’t blow their cover. ?

 

[kpr711]

Sorry to disappoint you but, the information you are providing is incorrect as the Michigan State Police have never used an F-150 Lightning for patrol use. Don’t take my word for ithere is the official press release from the MSP verifying that the Mach E is indeed the first battery electric vehicle (BEV) to be used on patrol.

https://www.michigan.gov/mspnewsroo...irst-battery-electric-vehicle-in-patrol-fleet

Now as for what you saw on I-94 that’s anybody’s guess, but, we do know it wasn’t Michigan State Police using F-150 Lightnings on patrol. ?

I stand humiliated, I throw myself at the mercy of the blog. I have obtained a new shine box.
It was the Indiana State Police, right near the border with Michigan.
Also note, that the division using the Mach E, does not patrol the interstate, they patrol state facilities and related.

 

[nvabill]

I stand humiliated, I throw myself at the mercy of the blog. I have obtained a new shine box.
It was the Indiana State Police, right near the border with Michigan.
Also note, that the division using the Mach E, does not patrol the interstate, they patrol state facilities and related.

No humiliation intended on my part, thank you for the update.

 

[Mach-E GT PE Jim]

I stand humiliated, I throw myself at the mercy of the blog. I have obtained a new shine box.
It was the Indiana State Police, right near the border with Michigan.
Also note, that the division using the Mach E, does not patrol the interstate, they patrol state facilities and related.

I have seen the Indiana Lightning’s as well.

 

[Mach1E]

I have seen the Indiana Lightning’s as well.

They saw you first. ?

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