A new trend is being observed in the US: criminals using electric vehicles are increasingly escaping police pursuits in regular cars. This is due to the significant difference in acceleration dynamics between electric and gasoline vehicles, Techcult.ru reports.
According to WMTV 15 News, electric cars like the Tesla Model Y or Hyundai Ioniq 5 N can reach 60 mph in under 3 seconds. Meanwhile, a standard Dodge Charger police car takes about 6 seconds.
This performance gap has already led to several getaways. For example, in West Memphis, Arkansas, police were unable to catch a Tesla Model Y and were forced to use spike strips to stop the vehicle.
Recognizing this problem, some police departments have begun upgrading their fleets. The Georgia State Police purchased three Mach-E GT electric vehicles to improve pursuit efficiency.
Interestingly, switching to electric vehicles can also bring economic benefits. Experts estimate that using one electric police car can save up to 5000 USD a year on fuel and maintenance compared to a conventional vehicle.
However, before electric vehicles can be fully implemented into police forces, a number of technical issues need to be addressed, including the development of special compartments for transporting detainees.