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Met set on more electric cars for London’s roads
Mark Prigg23.04.09
Half of London's police cars could be powered by alternative fuels within four years, Scotland Yard announced today.
Plans were revealed to replace older vehicles with electric versions, as well as moves to test radical air-powered cars that can be refuelled at garage forecourt pumps. Although pursuit cars are likely to continue to use petrol, for day-to-day work the Met believes electric or even air-powered cars could soon become commonplace.
The Met is already testing electric Smart cars in central London and at Heathrow, and has a fleet of more than 140 Prius hybrid cars.
"London is perfect for alternative fuels such as electric or hybrid vehicles" said Nigel Jakubowski, director of transport services for the Met. The Smart car can travel up to 70 miles on one charge and be powered using a three-pin plug.
Mr Jakubowski added: "For central London the top speed of 55mph isn't a problem. The uniformed officers who have driven them say they are very quick. We have installed charging points at the stations the cars are based in, and they work very well."
Several London councils have taken part in the electric Smart car trials while Mayor Boris Johnson wants to introduce 100,000 electric cars to the capital. The Prime Minister has also offered a subsidy of £5,000 to the buyers of electric cars.
Reader views (15)
I thought they were supposed to be getting out of their cars and 'back on the beat' rather than posing in / driving their cars.
- Mc, London
Why waste electricity when you can have a car that is proof tested to run on ‘FRESH AIR’? See video link from BBC News http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ov4t1P9bdGw
Carl Barron Chairman agpcuk
- Carl Barron, Christchurch, Dorset
Isn`t it a bit late for April Fool`s Day??
- M. John Namrah, San Diego, California
How much more carbon emmisions from the power stations in producing the extra capacity electricty for the electric cars?
Would it not be simpler to produce a carbon filter that fitted on the exhaust of present vehicles and change it at regular service intervals? Or as soon as the vehicle lost power?
- A Winsley, London
How long will it be before the yobs start to turn these lightweight vehicles on their roofs ! probably with the officer still inside !
- Rosie, watford
I would have thought. the police would prefer electric chairs, to electric cars.
- Mickyinlondon, london
Noddy is not going to be happy - Mr Plod has half inched his car !
- Wills, Soton
Don't forget to pull the plug out when you drive off PC Blod in your hurry to get to the crime scene or you will take the lamp post with you. It's bad enough to get a copper to respond to a crime as it is. Can you image the new excuse> "My battery is flat. See you in a day or two when it is charged up again." Bank robberies will sore. You have to laugh
- Albert Hall, hove england
What is wrong with getting rid of police vehicles and putting the coppers back on the beat - London was surely a safer place to be when there were police on every corner - instead of being cramped into these sardine can insults to humanity?
- Reuben Camara, Morecambe/Lancaster
Nobby, seeing as you missed it first time round:
"Although pursuit cars are likely to continue to use petrol..."
- John, London
why can they not walk the beat like years ago in london most coppers are fat and out of condition
shoe leather is cheaper
and then they may get fitter to do the job there paid to do instead of swaning around in cars
- Terry Chambers, London
Good for moving pollution out of our city and improving our air quality, but they're not actually 'green' vehicles are they?
It's just substituting the local burning of petrol and diesel for the distant burning of coal and gas...
- John, London
Great idea! As long as the bad guys have enough petrol to go 70.1 miles, they will get away.
- Nobby Clark, Perth, Scotland
Good to London and a perfect model for the world pace for clear energy.
Better with financial policy for those cars going to individuals.
- Sean, China
Presumably they will catch criminals rendered helpless with laughter . . .
- Roz, France
