LAW-enforcement teams, firefighters and medics across Europe are adopting Nissan LEAF – the world’s most popular electric vehicle – as a key frontline emergency support vehicle.
Emergency services in Portugal, France, the UK and Switzerland have deployed LEAFs as community support vehicles, with a number of other countries considering making the switch to battery power.
Jean-Pierre Diernaz, Director of Electric Vehicles, Nissan Europe, said: ‘Emergency first responders and law-enforcement communities rely heavily on their vehicles. The fact that so many forces across Europe are choosing Nissan LEAF for urban-based community support roles shows how significant zero emissions and low running costs – fuel and maintenance – have become.
‘As well as helping to save the environment, vastly reduced fuel bills mean a fleet of Nissan LEAFs can make a serious contribution to a bottom line, making budget savings that can be reinvested in supporting the communities they serve.’
The multi-award-winning LEAF has been chosen by the various first responders for differing reasons but all cite the car’s zero-emissions credentials as the most important motivation for the switch from conventional petrol and diesel cars.
The first force in the world to go electric was Portugal’s PSP (Polícia de Segurança Pública), which has been running eight Nissan LEAFs as part of its Safe School Programme for the last year. Fitted with blue flashing lights, sirens and clear ‘Polícia’ markings, they can also perform other police duties at any time.
In the UK, West Midlands Police have placed an order for 30 Nissan LEAFs for use by officers to visit victims of crime and attend other pre-arranged meetings. Averaging around 50 mile a day – well within a full charge range – these LEAFs allow the force to free-up its vehicle fleet for other vital crime-fighting duties.
Daily patrol fleet
The Police Municipal in the Swiss town of Meyrin, 10km north of Geneva, has also adopted the zero-emissions car, which forms part of force’s daily patrol fleet in the local community.
In Scotland, the Scottish Police Services Authority (SPSA) has taken delivery of two Nissan LEAFs for community work. As well as environmental gains, the force is keen to save money. The move not only saves the SPSA money but also supports ambitious plans set out by the Scottish Government to become carbon-neutral by 2050.
Meanwhile, to accommodate its new fleet of Nissan LEAFs, the County Durham Fire and Rescue Service has ensured its new headquarters currently under construction at Belmont, Country Durham, is EV-friendly. Three charging points are planned as the service looks to further expand its environmental commitment by adding more electric vehicles to its fleet.