Police go electric in London

8 February 2002: Sparks might fly with the latest addition to the London Metropolitan Police Force additions to their car fleet.

They've just taken delivery of their first electric cars, based on the Ford TH!NK city cars which have been developed as alternative transport for urban use.

The two-seater cars will not have blue lights or sirens fitted, and they have a 53-mile radius and can accelerate from a standstill to 30mph in under seven seconds. They have a top speed of 56mph, and will NOT be used for pursuit. They are expected to do duty as response vehicles for house burglaries.

They can be fully recharged in eight hours through a normal three-pin electric socket. The Metropolitan Police'shave a transport fleet of 4,000 petrol-driven vehicles, but the TH!NK cars cost just 40p to recharge as against a large petrol bill for each of the normal vehicles.

February 2002