MAY 2022. Blues Vol 38 No. 5

THE OPEN ROAD by Michael

THE OPEN ROAD by Michael Barron ELECTRIC SHOPS Debunking the top ten myths in electric law enforcement vehicles. By Chief (retired) Michael Benson and Chief Todd Bertram Electric vehicle (EV) myths are pervasive in our media culture. Yet it seems like EV stories are all negative: they have short ranges, are too small, catch fire and have no power. Are they really as bad as they say? Or do the police departments already adding them to their fleets know something we don’t? There are a lot of myths out there, so let’s learn from a couple of chiefs who know the truth. Electric vehicle myths are intended to keep you from considering adding electric vehicles to your fleet. Don’t let them dissuade you. MYTH 1: ELECTRIC VEHICLES DON’T HAVE ENOUGH RANGE Most municipal police cars drive less than 100 miles per shift. The Tesla Model Y has a 330-mile range, the Ford Mustang Mach-E GT has a 270-mile range, and the Tesla Model 3 AWD goes 358 miles on a full charge. All three will easily cover a full shift. EVs are almost perfectly designed for police work as they use very little power while idling with the HVAC running, or driving at neighborhood patrol speeds. When you need to drive quickly, they accelerate like a sports car. While today’s EVs may not be ready for highway patrol or covering large areas, vehicle ranges of 400-500 miles are coming soon. It was only a few years ago when a long-distance EV only had a 200-mile range. MYTH 2: ELECTRIC VEHICLES TAKE TOO LONG TO CHARGE This depends on what level of charging you are using, and how much energy [battery state of charge (SOC)] you want to start your shift with. If you plug into a typical 120V wall outlet it would take a full day to charge. Most agencies install “Level 2” charging, which uses a 240V circuit similar in size to the electric dryer or air conditioner in your house. Level 2 charging refills your battery to 80% SOC in a few hours. If your vehicles stay at the station between shifts this works well. If you share your cars, or you have another need to charge your vehicles in 15 minutes or less, you need a Direct Current (DC) fast charger. This type of charging can be expensive and energy-intensive, but is essential for a mission-critical EV fleet. DC fast charging speeds range significantly based on their power levels, which are five to 35 times faster than Level 2 charging. Based on the battery packs in Teslas and the Ford Mach-E, you will need an 80-100kW DC fast charger to refill your car to 80% SOC between shifts. With the right-sized charging infrastructure, EVs can be refilled and ready for their next shift as quickly as the time it takes to drive to a gas station and pump your gas. And your charging will take place at the station between shifts actually reducing the time needed to fill your “tank” before your shift. MYTH 3: ELECTRIC VEHICLES ARE TOO EXPENSIVE This is true if you only look at the up-front purchase price, but if you look at the total cost of ownership, EVs cost far less than gas vehicles. The Bargersville (Indiana) Police Department has been saving ,000 annually per EV, resulting in a break-even point in 18 months. From then on, the agency keeps those savings in its budget, which helps to keep the department staffed. As we move forward, EVs will keep getting cheaper and better. The battery pack is the most expensive part of the car, and battery costs continue to drop as more EVs are manufactured. The 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning already has cost parity with Ford’s internal combustion engine (ICE) versions this year. Other EVs will match their ICE counterparts in the next two years, especially after the current automotive supply-demand issues are resolved. MYTH 4: ELECTRIC VEHICLES ARE NOT PURSUIT-READY Actually, EVs are inherently quick due to having 100% of their power available from a standstill. Their acceleration will help your officer to quickly catch up, and possibly avoid a long pursuit. Just like an ICE car, you need to start your shift with enough fuel to be ready to respond. This emphasizes the importance of having an 80% SOC when you get to work, and possibly plugging in your car when you are parked at the station during your shift. This will ensure you are ready and able to participate in a pursuit. MYTH 5: ELECTRIC VEHICLES ARE SO NEW YOU CAN’T GET PARTS TO REPAIR THEM We all heard horror stories from the early days of EV production, especially from Tesla several years ago. Since then, the situation has changed; volume production for EVs has made parts access much easier, and more EV factories are coming online every year. The need for maintenance of an EV is much lower than a gas car. There are no oil changes, no transmission to replace and no exhaust to rust away. Most agencies only need to replace tires, which you do for all vehicles, or replace some parts under warranty. 90 The BLUES POLICE MAGAZINE The BLUES POLICE MAGAZINE 91