Singapore police introduces EVs to patrol fleet
It is the first time electric vehicles have been used by the Singapore Police Force, which itself is the first Home Affairs department to use EVs at all. The cars will primarily be used by traffic police to patrol motorways, assist drivers and take action against motorists. However, police have said they will also deploy the vehicles elsewhere when necessary.
The cars were purchased as part of a public tender process last year which saw bids from other companies including the Hyundai Ioniq 5, the BYD Seal, and the BMW i4 and iX1. In the end, the winning bid of $3.8m Singapore dollars (approx €2.5m Euros) came from Polestar’s local vendor Wearnes Automotive.
The police force will use the dual motor AWD versions of the Polestar 2, which have an 82kWh battery and a range of roughly 470km. These are also capable of reaching 100kph in 4.5 seconds. As a result, the Polestar 2 outstrips the minimum requirements of the public tender process, which called for EVs with a minimum battery capacity of 60kWh and 0-100kph in less than 8 seconds.
The cars will have several features not available to the general public. Channel News Asia shared images of the new cars, which feature vinyl decals typical of the local police force – orange-blue Battenburg markings and stripes – as well as roof-mounted emergency lights and an LED message board. The Traffic Police state they are using a modified version of the Polestar 2 which features run-flat tyres that can be driven up to 80km after a puncture. The EVs will also feature a solid metal roof, instead of the glass roof used in Polestar 2 models sold to the public in Singapore. For safety and security, the car’s online connectivity features are disabled, the upholstery has been reinforced, and a steel partition has been installed between the rear passenger seats and the vehicle cockpit.
The cars will be deployed from the second half of 2025 onwards, and the contract covers 10 years worth of maintenance. The Singapore Police Force is also installing 120kW chargers at the Traffic Police HQ specifically for the EVs.
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