NYC fleet adds 70 plug-in vehicles, including Chevy Volt cop cars

[KeepItReal]

NYC's Mayor, Michael Bloomberg, announced a best-of-both-worlds addition to his city's fleet:



50 Chevrolet Volt hatchbacks (some to be used as police vehicles)
10 all-electric Ford Transit Connect cargo vans
10 all-electric Navi-star "E-star" utility trucks

Part of PlaNYC, the plug-in vehicles will join 360 other EVs in the city's fleet as a component of an effort to reduce emissions and to have the Big Apple "lead by example," Bloomberg said. Nine different city departments – including FDNY, NYPD and the Department of Environmental Protection (see the whole list after the jump) – will use the vehicles, all in "non-emergency duties" for now.

http://www.autoblog.com/2011/07/13/nyc-fleet-adds-70-plug-in-vehicles-including-chevy-volt-cop-car/

[HopeHoops]

1. Um, no offense intended toward the Volt, but WTF is its top speed?

I'll stick with a Crown Victoria for a basic cruiser and a Mustang or Charger for an interceptor. Unless they're just for handing out parking tickets, I don't really see the point.

Then again, NYC decided to go with a Toyota or something silly like that for their new cabs. I'll walk, thank you.

[Codeine]

2. Top speed 100mph. 0-60 in 9 seconds. nt

[HopeHoops]

5. Well that doesn't suck. Probably adequate for a city environment. HOWEVER....

It certainly wouldn't be worth shit as a PA State Trooper's car. 100mph is nothing - my minivan can do that.

[Codeine]

8. Nothing I'd want in a cop car,

but in NYC that's probably adequate. I live in Freeway Land -- cops need fast cars here. The Volt would be relegated to code enforcement cops.

[HopeHoops]

9. I'm right off of I-81 near Harrisburg - 120+mph chases are rather common.

On Edit:

It would be rather amusing to see a Volt with "ramming bars" on the front bumper. WTF would THEY be used for?

[TheWraith]

11. I bet those police would love a Tesla Model S.

Top speed of 125 miles per hour on the civilian version, 0 to 60 in 5.9 seconds.

[HopeHoops]

12. Actually, the PA Troopers use Crown Victorias - not much can outrun them - that's where the Chargers

come in.

[TheWraith]

13. And the Crown Vics require gasoline. The Teslas don't. nt

[HopeHoops]

14. Well that's another concern with the Teslas - finding a charging station.

Gas is pretty easy to come by and quick to put in. Even if you can just plug into a household outlet, you still have to wait for a Tesla to charge.

I'm all for electric vehicles, but that's going to take some major infrastructure investments like pay-as-you-go charging stations and battery/fuel cell swap-out systems like they have at convenience stores for LP gas canisters. Keep in mind that electric vehicles aren't "zero emission" options - producing the electricity has environmental consequences. My dream is for solar/wind charging stations with battery swap-outs all along the highway just as we have gas stations now. That's a long way out I'm afraid.

[TheWraith]

3. In the middle of New York City, how fast can you actually go? nt

[HopeHoops]

6. From personal experience, about 30mph.

[KeepItReal]

4. Top speed of 100mph

For all those high-speed chases on the freeways of Manhattan you see all the time, right?

:evilgrin:

[HopeHoops]

7. Only if OJ Simpson is in his SUV.

[Stevenmarc]

15. Obviously someone has never driven in NYC

Top speed is not an issue here.

[HopeHoops]

16. Yes, I have - and (in an earlier post) said "30 mph" is about the maximum I've hit.

But there are roads outside of downtown where higher speeds are typical.

[Stevenmarc]

17. I'm pretty aware

Of NYC traffic patterns considering I've lived here all my life. The NYPD has a rather large fleet and not every car in the fleet has to be capable of chasing the General Lee. I'm sure the Volt will fill a niche just as our R/T's have.

[HopeHoops]

18. ^5 for the General Lee reference.

:rofl:

[Renew Deal]

10. Now that the cops have electric cars the crooks will carry EMP's!