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Trial of electric car draws positive feedback |
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In support of Government policy to promote wider use of electric vehicles, the Force accepted a short trial of a Mini E earlier this month. The trial proved a good opportunity to see how this type of vehicle, with a larger body shell and more powerful drive train than other electric vehicles in this class, might fit into the Force fleet in future. This electric car boasts a range of 250 km on a full charge and takes just 8.5 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 100 km per hour. During this preliminary trial of a left-hand drive model that is destined for further field tests in the United States, the car was tested in a variety of circumstances from sedate in-town logistics journeys to spirited highway motoring in the New Territories. According to Senior Police Constable Ko Sik-Chung of the Police Headquarters Transport Pool, "the vehicle drives like a normal car but without the noise of an engine as you step on the accelerator. What you get is a low hum from the electric motor and the reassuring power as you pull away. The car offers spacious seating for the driver and a passenger with a decent amount of storage space at the rear." The top brass who used the car were also positive about the ride quality. Director of Operations Hung Hak-wai and Director of Personnel and Training Ma Wai-luk had used the car for duty journeys and both commented favourably on the car's performance and potential. Police Constable Lai Fai-loi of Traffic New Territories South also had positive comment after taking the vehicle on a test drive on the strategic road network in the New Territories. "It is a real pleasure to drive this car. It performed exceptionally well in all areas and the drive train is quiet yet powerful. I can see that this car will work well in certain traffic applications, even expressway enforcement operations," he said. Field-testing of a limited number of Mini E cars is being conducted in several countries around the world and the Force is privileged and proud to have been offered a rare opportunity to participate in such a pioneering programme. Following the positive response from frontline officers, the Force has accepted an offer of a longer trial to evaluate the vehicle's capabilities as a patrol vehicle in full police livery.
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