The Michigan State Police (MSP) received its first electric patrol car, joining the growing number of police departments using electric vehicles.
A 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E prepared for police use was given to MSP's State Security Operations Section for use by security officers at government and leased facilities near Michigan's capital, Lansing, according to a Jan. 13.
2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E police car
The Michigan State Police is known for testing all new police vehicles, and has been testing EVs since 2022. mixed police cars.
Police departments in other parts of the country are ahead of Michigan in that regard. Ford has been fielding the Mustang Mach-E as a police car since 2021, and the New York Police Department (NYPD) has already received a few. Ford also offers a police version of the F-150 Lightning pick-up truck, and has said it is also considering “purpose-built electric police vehicles”.
2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E police car
Given the state's leadership in EV sales to the public, several California police departments use electric vehicles—at least one municipality boasts an all-electric one. These are often Tesla Model 3 and Model Y crossovers modified by aftermarket companies, some police departments have said it is not up to the job.
Police departments still don't have many options for electric vehicles. It's unclear whether the Tesla Cybertruck will prove more suitable for police work than the automaker's smaller vehicles. But Stellantis has teased a possible all-electric Dodge Charger Daytona, which could reasonably replace the previous generation's gasoline-powered Charger sedans as they retire.