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INDUSTRY NEWS
Tesla Model 3 Police Cars Pay for Themselves Faster than Expected, Says Police Chief
Bargersville, IN Police Chief Todd Bertrum, who pushed to electrify his department’s patrol cars with Tesla Model 3 vehicles (in 2019), now says that the electric vehicles might pay for themselves in less than two years (the Model 3s replaced Dodge Chargers). e Model 3 Standard Range Plus version that was purchased by the Bargersville Police Department was a little more expensive than the Dodge Charger, but they expect gas savings of approximately $6,000 per year, which means that the Model 3 will pay for itself over its lifetime. e Bargersville Police Department generally keep their vehicles for six years and after breaking down the economics, they determined that they are going to save about $20,000 (per car) with the Model 3. is includes not only gas savings but some signi cant maintenance savings, too. e department expected that the electric vehicles would pay for themselves in about two years. After having the vehicles for a few months, Chief Bertram now believes that the return on investment could happen as fast as 19 months.
Polaris has had its eye on developing a series of o -road electric vehicles spanning its many product classes. at goal looks all but certain now after a new partnership was announced between Polaris and Zero Motorcycles to co-develop electric o -road vehicles. Zero Motorcycles is a leader in electric motorcycles in the West, with a larger share of the North American electric motorcycle market than competitors such as Energica, Lightning Motorcycles, and Harley-Davidson combined. Polaris has long led the o -road vehicle industry and despite most of Polaris’ o erings being gas-powered up to this point, the company indeed o ers a handful of electric models such as the GEM neighborhood electric vehicle (NEV) and the all-terrain Ranger EV. Now the two companies are combining forces in a 10-year exclusive partnership to develop a series of electric o road vehicles and electric snowmobiles. Polaris and Zero claim the rst o -road electric vehicle developed by the partnership will roll out by the end of 2021.
Ground E ects, Ltd. (GFX) announced its award by FCAMopar Division for the factory up t program on the Dodge Durango Pursuit. is program was awarded based on the expertise GFX has in the overall marketplace and its high level of quality manufacturing. e FCA o erings of Vehicle Emergency Equipment Wire Harness & PDC (XPW), Police Center Console (CUG), Front Door Ballistic Panels (XDG, XDV), and Left & Right-Hand Spotlights (LNA, LNF) help round out the Durango Pursuit into a true police vehicle. GFX’s intimate knowledge of the vehicle and emergency systems provide unparalleled expertise on equipment integration for all three FCA police vehicles, Charger Pursuit, Durango Pursuit, and Ram 1500 SSV.
Feniex Industries Announces Natasha Masterson as New Vice President
Natasha Masterson recently joined Feniex Industries, as a new Vice President, after leaving her role as Director of Marketing for Lamborghini. Natasha brings over a decade of vast experience in market and product strategy and has demonstrated herself to be a leader in the automotive industry, playing essential roles in expanding businesses at a senior level. In her new role at Feniex, she will be overseeing, managing, and executing all growth strategies. She will manage the full end-to-end system ow of the development, marketing, and sales of all new products. “We have been searching for an executive like Natasha for years and I’m con dent we have found our key asset that will help expand Feniex in the global marketplace,” said Hamza Deyaf, CEO of Feniex Industries. Feniex Industries provides American-made vehicle warning devices for rst responders worldwide.
NYPD Receives New Hybrid Cars
e New York City Police Department (NYPD) is among the rst in the country to receive brand-new hybrid models built speci cally as police cars. e Ford Fusion-based Police Responder Sedan is the rst true hybrid built for police purposes. Although it sounds and drives like a typical police vehicle, Ford estimates the cars will save more than 1,500 gallons of fuel per car per year. e NYPD aims to have all 10,000 of its vehicles become electric or hybrid within ve years in an e ort to reduce emissions and cut fuel costs. Right now, the department spends approximately $15 million a year on gas. e NYPD started testing retro tted civilian hybrids in 2009, which improved fuel economy by two-thirds over a gas-powered cruiser.
WHAT’S NEW FROM THE BIG THREE FOR 2021
BY BRAD BREWER
FORD
Ford’s all-new 2020 civilian Explorer and Police Interceptor Utility (PIU) has taken the market by storm with the standard Hybrid PIU capitalizing on the previous generation PIU’s success. The drastic changes to the 2020 PIU were literally segmentchanging. So signi cant was the new PIU that Ford currently provides roughly two-thirds of all police vehicles in North America. So other than a new exterior color option called “Carbonized Gray,” and the deletion of the NorSea Blue paint color, the 2021 Police Interceptor Utility (PIU) and Expedition SSV both gure to carry over mostly unchanged for the 2021 model year. Which is not a surprise, as Ford’s popularity with police departments remains high.
For the Transit Van Prisoner Transport Vehicle, the only noticeable change is that this vehicle is moving to a new honeycomb grille as standard, replacing the current threebar grille.
The Responder Hybrid Sedan ( Fusion) is no longer offered for 2021 as production of the civilian Fusion ended for 2020.
The F-150 Responder ( Pursuit Rated) pickup will obviously be updated with the arrival of the new 2021 retail F-150 but so far, nothing has been publicly released on this pursuit-rated pickup. We are hopeful to hear news by the end of 2020.
Ford has already started to reveal its all-new F-150 Special Service Vehicle (SSV), the latest in a portfolio of law enforcement and municipal vehicles trusted by cities and states across the country. Ford has been the best-selling police vehicle in law enforcement and the clear leader with officers everywhere. The all-new F-150 SSV is purpose-built to serve the community in supporting non-pursuit roles where trailering, payload, and utility are mission critical.
The all-new Ford F-150 SSV helps fire departments, city public works departments, and law enforcement agencies serve their communities better. The available class-exclusive 3.5-liter PowerBoost ™ hybrid engine offers improved fuel economy and the opportunity to reduce engine idle times, as well as the uptime-improving technology of over-the-air updates.
F-150 SSV provides power, towing, and payload capacity to meet the specialized needs of these unique deployments. The SSV is designed to be upfit-ready to support emergency lighting, radios, computers, and other onboard electrical equipment. Standard features include a column shifter, heavy-duty cloth front seats with no center seat section or console, vinyl rear seat, vinyl flooring, and a 240amp alternator.
“We build the F-150 SSV specifically to support the behind-the-scenes work Law Enforcement and city agencies do every day to keep communities running smoothly,” said Stephen Tyler, Ford police brand marketing manager. “You might find our SSV towing boats for waterfront patrols or hauling firefighters and gear off-road during wildfire events. It is a great tool for getting work done and the new capabilities built into our truck expand its capability.”
The all-new F-150 has the most available towing, payload, torque, and horsepower of any light-duty full-size pickup. It introduces all-new features to increase officer productivity, has new connected vehicle innovations such as over-the-air updates that help keep F-150 at the forefront of purposeful technology, and offers an available all-new 3.5-liter PowerBoost ™ full hybrid powertrain.
The all-new F-150 SSV starts with a durable, proven foundation, a fully boxed, high-strength steel frame with a high-strength, military-grade, aluminum alloy body. F-150 SSV is available in F-150 XL SuperCrew configuration, with the option of the 5.0L V8, 3.5-liter EcoBoost ® V6, or all-new 3.5-liter PowerBoost full hybrid engine, either a 4x4 or 4x2 drivetrain, and available FX4 Off-Road Package. A high-output 240-amp alternator on gas engine options replaces the stock unit to meet the demands for additional onboard electrical power. On the 3.5L PowerBoost hybrid, the lithium-ion hybrid battery supplies power to on-board accessories even when the gas engine is off, leading to reduced engine idle times and potential fuel savings.
F-150 SSV includes an all-new interior with a standard column shifter, heavy-duty cloth front seats with no center seat section or console, vinyl rear seat, and vinyl floors. These features are designed for the hard-wearing requirements and easy cleanup required by government agencies. The interior is configured to allow custom upfits for aftermarket consoles, computers, and other equipment used in everyday duties.
In addition to the 5.0-liter V8 and 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6, Ford is proud to offer the all-new 3.5-liter PowerBoost hybrid targeted to deliver the most torque and horsepower of any light-duty full-size pickup and at least 12,000 pounds of maximum towing. PowerBoost has been tested extensively to support sustained usage in extreme temperatures or under heavy loads. It combines Ford’s proven EcoBoost engine and 10-speed SelectShift ® automatic transmission with the instant low-end torque of a 35-kilowatt (47-horsepower) electric motor integrated into the transmission. The electric motor also captures energy through its regenerative braking system to help recharge the 1.5-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery, which is efficiently packaged underneath so the cab and cargo box is unimpeded by the system, resulting in no loss of passenger or cargo space.
Power is not only important under the hood. Available Pro Power Onboard expands F-150 SSV’s capability by bringing generator levels of exportable power. Pro Power Onboard is available with a 2.0-kilowatt output for gas-only engines, while PowerBoost-equipped F-150 comes standard with 2.4 kilowatts of output or an optional 7.2 kilowatts of output. Power is accessible through in-cabin outlets and up to four cargo-bed-mounted 120-volt 20-amp outlets, with a 240-volt 30-amp outlet on the 7.2-kilowatt version. The system even provides power on the move to charge handheld radio, laptop, phone, or tool batteries.
Every 2021 F-150 SSV comes standard with new cleats mounted to the sides of the tailgate that act as tie-down locations for extra-long items in the bed. New clamp pockets are built in to the tailgate of every truck, so materials can be
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held in place. An available flat Tailgate Work Surface also includes integrated rulers, mobile device holder, cupholder, and pencil holder.
The 2021 F-150 SSV offers available Trailer Reverse Guidance and Pro Trailer Backup Assist. Trailer Reverse Guidance, made popular on Super Duty, uses the truck’s high-resolution cameras to provide multiple views along with helpful graphics that tell drivers which way to turn the steering wheel while backing up. Pro Trailer Backup Assist, which makes backing up a trailer as easy as turning a dial, continues on F-150.
The 2021 F-150 represents Ford’s next big step in bringing connected vehicles to fleets. It is North America’s first full-size pickup with standard over-the-air updates, helping trucks stay at the forefront of purposeful technology. These updates are bumper-to-bumper, and can include all-new functions and additional features throughout the life of the truck. They can support preventative maintenance, reduce repair trips, provide improved performance, and ultimately result in more vehicle uptime. The majority of updates will be completed in under two minutes and can be performed at times fleet managers choose, so they will not have to put work on hold.
Available new Ford Telematics ™ and Ford Data Services ™ provides an array of connectivity tools designed to help fleet managers minimize vehicle downtime and increase vehicle uptime.
An 8-inch center touchscreen is stan-
dard for better rearview camera vision and easy access to the digital owner’s manual, which can help operators find the information they need more easily, including how-to videos for additional explanation. All-new SYNC ® 4 is standard, helping minimize distractions with hands-free voice control as well as core features such as the capability to make phone calls and enable audible text dictation.
All-new F-150 offers the latest driverassist features as part of available Ford Co-Pilot360 ™ 2.0. More features are now standard on XL, including PreCollision Assist with Automatic Emergency Braking and Pedestrian Detection to help avoid a possible collision with another vehicle or a pedestrian, rearview
camera with dynamic hitch assist, auto high-beam headlamps, and auto on/off headlamps.
Every F-150 SSV is assembled at Ford’s Dearborn Truck Plant in Dearborn, MI, and Kansas City Assembly Plant in Claycomo, MO, and the order banks are open now.
DODGE
The Dodge Police Program has been very successful in the normally Ford-dominated world of Law Enforcement. Dodge has carved itself a nice slice of the Police pie with the Charger and Durango Pursuit vehicles. Selling out the 2020 Charger sedan production was very signi cant, as the Charger
