By 2030, the city of Irvine plans to achieve carbon neutrality, and a big part of its ambitious sustainability goals is electrifying its police fleet, officials say.
With the help of nearly $1 million in funding from the state, the Irvine Police Department will transition its fleet at the Great Park to all-electric. The funds will go toward six charging stations at the Great Park for the department’s use and 13 electric vehicles to provide policing services in and around the Great Park, including Ford F-150 Lightning trucks, Ford Mustang Mach-Es, Polaris Rangers and all-terrain vehicles.
“It’s remarkable to see how much has changed (at the Great Park),” said Irvine Police Chief Michael Kent. “Upon its completion, it will join America’s inventory of national treasures, and it will set a new standard for great metropolitan parks nationwide.”
The funding allows the city to take “another step into the development of the Great Park,” he said.
“There’s a saying in politics that budgets are a reflection of our values, and these funds demonstrate the state’s commitment to public safety as well as also meeting our climate goals,” said state Sen. Dave Min, D-Irvine, who helped secure the funding in the state budget. “While it’s another beautiful day in Irvine, we know that increasing temperatures are dramatically going to change our civilization unless we start to turn things around.”
Modern, greener police vehicles are a small step in that right direction, he said.
The department has 230 vehicles that range from sedans, trucks, motorcycles, trailers and other larger vehicles, said Kent, but only one electric vehicle: a Ford F-150 Lightning that has been patrolling the Great Park since June.
Kent said the department’s goal to transition the fleet of vehicles that patrols the Great Park to all-electric is “ASAP.”
“As soon as we can get the order into manufacturers, they’re going out into the field,” he said.
And…
Read the full article here
