South Yorkshire Police Force has added ten Vauxhall Ampera electric cars to their fleet in an effort to save £25,000 a year in fuel costs.
The battery-electric Vauxhall Ampera cars were purchased after trialling the vehicle in Sheffield earlier this year.
The electric vehicles will be used to visit victims of crime and make inquiries. They will not be used to respond to emergencies or in pursuits.
The electric Ampera’s will help reduce the fleets emissions and running costs, with savings expected to be as much as £25,000 a year.
Surrey and Sussex police force were also reported to have added EVs to their fleet earlier in the year.
Sarah Gilding, head of vehicle fleet management for South Yorkshire Police, said: “Over the coming years parts of our fleet will need to be replaced and it could be that vehicles such as this could form an important part of our day-to-day activities.
“The vehicles will offer significant whole-life savings and environmental benefits and we believe they can fulfil a key role in 21st Century policing.”
Police and Crime Commissioner Alan Billings said: “This innovative approach to the vehicle fleet has given us a chance to make a genuine saving that can be used to ensure that front-line policing does not suffer at the hands of austerity.”
The Star
