LANSING, Mich. —The Michigan State Police has introduced its first battery electric vehicle, a 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E, to its patrol fleet, according to a news release.
Assigned to the State Security Operations Section, the Mustang will be used by state properties security officers to provide law enforcement and security services at state-owned and leased facilities in Lansing, according to the release.
“This is an exciting opportunity for us to research, in real time, how a battery electric vehicle performs on patrol,” said Col. James F. Grady II, director of the MSP.
He noted that the officers’ limited daily mileage, lower speeds and access to charging infrastructure in downtown Lansing make it an ideal test environment for a police-package electric vehicle, according to the release.
The MSP’s nationally recognized Precision Driving Unit, known for its annual Police Vehicle Evaluation, began testing BEVs in 2022 but has primarily utilized hybrids in its fleet.
“Adding this battery electric vehicle to our patrol fleet will allow us to study the vehicle’s performance long-term to determine if there is a potential for cost savings and broader applicability within our fleet,” said Lt. Nicholas Darlington, commander of the Precision Driving Unit.
