The White House revealed that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will begin field-testing the Ford Mustang Mach-E for use in its law enforcement fleet in early 2022.
The announcement comes as President Joe Biden signed an executive order mandating that the federal government’s fleet of light vehicles transition to zero local-emissions vehicles by 2027. The entire fleet will do the same by 2035.
The Mustang Mach-E became the first electric vehicle to ever pass Michigan state’s grueling police evaluation earlier this year. The trial subjects vehicles to acceleration, top speed, braking, and high-speed tests, and measures a vehicle’s emergency response handling characteristics.
“The fact that the Mustang Mach-E successfully stood up to the grueling Michigan State Police evaluation demonstrates that Ford can build electric vehicles that are capable, tough, and reliable enough for even the most challenging jobs,” said Ted Cannis, CEO of Ford Pro in September. “We understand the needs of our commercial customers and are committed to unlocking new electrification opportunities for them.”
The vehicle tested was based on the Mustang Mach-E GT and, therefore, featured a dual-motor all-wheel-drive setup that produces 480 hp (358 kW / 487 PS) and 600 lb-ft (813 Nm) of torque. The EPA rates the vehicle as having 250 miles (402 km) of range, while the quicker Performance version gets an estimated 235 miles (378 km) of range.
Ford has also submitted the Mustang Mach-E for evaluation by the U.K.’s police services. Its combination of space, performance, and electric propulsion makes it an attractive option for departments looking to adopt zero-emissions vehicles in their fleet.
The value of the deal is unknown at this point, but the White House said that the Department of Homeland Securities’ law enforcement fleet is 30,000 vehicles-strong. The wider federal government, meanwhile, operates a massive fleet of more than 600,000 vehicles.
