Ford Reveals 1st Pursuit-Rated Hybrid Police Car

Ford has revealed what it describes as the industry’s first pursuit-rated hybrid police car, the Ford Police Responder Hybrid Sedan. This is part of Ford’s $4.5 billion “electrified” vehicles push (hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and pure electrics).

Considering that Ford sells roughly 63% of all the police vehicles sold in the US, the news is pretty notable (though, we already knew it was coming).

As would be expected with a hybrid, the Ford Police Responder Hybrid Sedan has a pretty good fuel economy — with the (projected) EPA-estimated combined rating being 38 miles per gallon. That’s around twice the combined fuel economy rating for the Police Interceptor with a 3.7-liter V6 (EPA-estimated 18 mpg combined). So, there are significant fuel savings to be had with the new hybrids.

The press release provides more:

“While idling, the Police Responder Hybrid Sedan’s lithium-ion battery helps power the high electrical loads of a police vehicle, reducing engine run time and saving an estimated 0.27 gallons of fuel per hour. Police Responder Hybrid Sedan customers could see nearly $3,900 a year in potential fuel savings per vehicle relative to the Police Interceptor, if a police vehicle is driven 20,000 miles per year, runs two shifts per day, 365 days per year, idles 4.9 hours per 8-hour shift, and is fueled at an average gas price of $2.50/gallon. The Ford Police Responder online fuel calculator enables customers to determine how much they may potentially save.

“The Police Responder Hybrid Sedan uses an efficient Atkinson-cycle 2.0-liter engine with an electric motor fed by an advanced lithium-ion battery. The hybrid is calibrated for law enforcement’s unique duty cycle and will run in battery-only mode up to 60 mph. The car automatically switches to maximum performance — with the engine and battery working at peak acceleration levels — when needed.”

Orders for the new Ford Police Responder Hybrid Sedan will reportedly begin this “spring,” and deliveries next summer.