Following positive feedback on performance on their Tesla, West Shore RCMP will have two new electric vehicles joining their fleet this fall as part of the RCMP and Natural Resources Canada’s Greening Government Fleets Program.
On Wednesday, Oct. 8, the detachment showed media their new Mustang Mach-E and Ford F-150 Lightning along with a new Federal Signal Valor light bar on one of the Ford Explorers.
"We don't engage in too many police chases anymore, but I imagine (the vehicles would) be tough to outrun," said Supt. Todd Preston. "I've had the opportunity to take one of the electric vehicles out on the track in Ottawa, and (there's) undeniable pickup and torque on those things."
The detachment started piloting a Tesla Model Y in February 2023, and media relations officer Cpl. Nancy Saggar said it has gotten positive feedback from officers.
The Mustang, Suggar said, has a grey colour with black decals, as opposed to the typical white vehicles, because it isn't as noticeable as other vehicles and it "allows us to be a little bit more covert"
"What we're showcasing here is that along with the trend of modernization in policing, and RCMP specifically, is we're trying to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions," said Suggar. "We're doing that particularly in our transportation sector. The largest amount of greenhouse gases that we admit is through transportation in the RCMP. So naturally, that would be the way that we target, how to reduce (emissions)."
The new light bar is triangular in shape and has additional light patterns to the average, flat-laying light bar that's normally used. The triangular shape is designed to be more visible to other vehicles and pedestrians who approach a police vehicle from the side as the light projection may provide more visual coverage.
The RCMP has committed in the Greening Government Strategy that by 2030, the RCMP’s light-duty National Safety and Security Fleet will be comprised of 50 per cent zero-emission vehicles.