Ford’s Explorer Police Interceptor Utility Now Heats Up To Kill The Coronavirus

First responders have suffered heavily at the hands of the coronavirus, but Ford has found a way to help protect police officers.

Created for the Explorer-based Police Interceptor Utility, the software-based solution effectively bakes the coronavirus to death.

As Ford explained, the crossover’s powertrain and climate control system work together to increase the cabin temperature to more than 133° F (56.1° C). These high temperatures are sustained for 15 minutes and they help to disinfect the vehicle.

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Ford worked with Ohio State University to determine the right temperature and time duration needed to deactivate the virus. Their testing found that “exposing coronaviruses to temperatures of 56 degrees Celsius, or 132.8 degrees Fahrenheit, for 15 minutes reduces the viral concentration by greater than 99 percent on interior surfaces and materials used inside Police Interceptor Utility vehicles.”

To prevent police officers from accidentally interrupting the process, Ford has developed an exterior signaling system. The crossover’s hazard lights and taillights will flash in a “pre-set pattern” when the heating process is underway and will then change their pattern to signal the process has been completed. This information will also be shown on the instrument cluster.

Ford began working on the project in March and has since conducted trials with vehicles owned by the New York City Police Department, the Los Angeles Police Department and the Michigan State Police – among others.

The software update is now available for all 2013-19 Police Interceptor Utility vehicles and Ford says it can be installed by either their dealerships or a police department’s service center. The company is also working to bring the capability to other police vehicles and this should eventually include the all-new Police Interceptor Utility.

To activate the cleaning process on 2016-19 models, officers simply need to press the cruise control buttons in a “predefined order.” Unfortunately, things aren’t as simple with older 2013-15 models as the process has to be started using a tool that connects to the onboard diagnostics port.

In a statement, Ford’s Stephen Tyler said “This virus is an invisible enemy and we are proud to provide a solution to help the law enforcement community fight it.”