Assigned to the MSP’s State Security Operations Section, the 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E will be utilized for general law enforcement and security services at state-owned and leased facilities in the Lansing area.
Col. James D. Grady II, director of the MSP, stated, “This is an exciting opportunity for us to research, in real-time, how a battery EV performs on patrol. Our state property security officers patrol a substantially smaller number of miles per day than our troopers and motor carrier officers, within city limits at lower speeds. With downtown Lansing’s charging infrastructure, this is the ideal environment to test the capabilities of a police-package battery EV.”
Precision Driving Unit’s commander, Lt. Nicholas Darlington noted that while the MSP began testing battery EVs in 2022, hybrids have been the only alternative fuel vehicles in their fleet until now.
Lt. Darlington emphasized that the addition of a battery EV to the patrol fleet will facilitate long-term performance studies to identify potential cost savings and broader applicability in their fleet.
This mobility initiative marks a significant milestone in the Michigan’s goal to convert private and state-owned cars to zero-emission vehicles by 2040.