First all-electric Police car takes to the streets
The first all-electric powered police car in the country was quietly debuted Wednesday by its design engineers and those that will be using it on a day-to-day basis.
Although it has been put into limited service by the Connellsville Police Department, the refitted 2000 Chevrolet Impala was moved from the municipal garage to center stage making very little noise as it was officially unveiled to the public.
"It is quite a masterpiece," said city police Chief Stephen Cooper, as he introduced Coherent Systems International Corp. representatives that moved the project from the drawing board to the city streets.
The white background with blue and gold police decals gives the car the appearance of a routine cruiser, but beneath the hood and trunk is a technological wonder.
Although it has been put into limited service by the Connellsville Police Department, the refitted 2000 Chevrolet Impala was moved from the municipal garage to center stage making very little noise as it was officially unveiled to the public.
"It is quite a masterpiece," said city police Chief Stephen Cooper, as he introduced Coherent Systems International Corp. representatives that moved the project from the drawing board to the city streets.
The white background with blue and gold police decals gives the car the appearance of a routine cruiser, but beneath the hood and trunk is a technological wonder.
The Connellsville Police Department unveiled its new all-electric patrol car Tuesday in Connellsville. The refitted 2000 Chevrolet Impala was produced by Coherent Systems International. Ken Brooks/Herald-Standard The process began three years ago, said Cooper, when Dick Oglevee, a long-time friend approached him about the concept.
In order to participate, the department would have to give up one of its vehicles, a move that would require a downsizing of an already small fleet and approval of the mayor and council. Plus, there was no police force in the state or in the country that could offer input as to how well the car, when finished, would perform.
In order to participate, the department would have to give up one of its vehicles, a move that would require a downsizing of an already small fleet and approval of the mayor and council. Plus, there was no police force in the state or in the country that could offer input as to how well the car, when finished, would perform.
"Not knowing a lot about the technology or a lot about the company Dick (Oglevee) said he would be dealing with, I was a little hesitant initially," said Cooper.
With the "complete support" of Mayor Judy Reed and council, he added, the vehicle as it was initially manufactured made its final trip to the Windber-based firm.
Oglevee, a Connellsville-area resident and co-owner of United First Responders (UFR), said while other communities expressed interest in participating in the program, he wanted the ground-breaking technology to have its trial run in his hometown. UFR, of Lemont Furnace, manufactures products and provides training services for first responders, military and the private sector to detect bioterrorist threats.
It was the working relationship of his company and Coherent and his friendship with Cooper that resulted in the local project, said Oglevee. "We talked about the cost-savings; pennies a day versus dollars a day," he said. "No oil changes or tune-up or trips to the gas pump."
According to the developers, the all-electric vehicle costs approximately 35-cents a day to maintain while a gas fueled police car costs more than $3.50 per day to maintain. This, of course, does not include the price of gasoline. Coherent engineer Jack Fagan said that after the car arrived it was completely stripped of the transmission, motor and all other equipment that could not be powered by electricity.
"One of the key factors was making sure that our electric motor was directly aligned with the car's in-place components," he said. "You already have a car; you want to make sure that everything is functioning properly, such as the brake lights and front head lights."
The interior of the car is configured somewhat differently with no gearshift or speedometer. Three buttons - forward, neutral and reverse have replaced the shifter, while the speed is shown on a computer screen. The vehicle makes very little sound, eases quickly from slower to higher speeds and only requires an electrical outlet and power cord to recharge. Cooper said that the car is capable of operating for a full eight-hour shift before needing to be recharged. Currently its use is restricted to dry, daylight hours.
The Coherent representatives declined to reveal the price tag for the project. Bob McGowan, Coherent vice-president and general manager, said all costs were defrayed through the company's research and development department and was not government funded. "It is a prototype," he said, adding that the costs will decline as more vehicles are converted. "Parts alone (for the Connellsville project) were around $75,000; but that certainly is not an indication as to what it will cost in the future.
"We want to make this affordable; in the range of what an ordinary fleet car would cost." The company plans to meet with state government representatives today to discuss expanding the project to include state-operated vehicles. Lance Simmens, special assistant to Gov. Ed Rendell, said the technology fits in with the state's Growing Greener initiative.
"This is an incredible opportunity," he said. "It plays very nicely into the energy independent strategy the governor has been promoting the past several years. "This is the future for the environment and the economy." Simmens said the Connellsville project and similar ones in development do hold the governor's interest. "We are very interested in any and all opportunities to help reduce our dependence on oil and this represents one of those opportunities," he said. "We are going to do everything that we can to see it comes to fruition."
The company, said Fagan, has had inquiries by other governmental entities about the project. The technology has led to the production of a clandestine buggy-type vehicle that can be used by local police departments with rugged terrain, combat soldiers on the battlefield or golfers on the golf course. Each has its own unique characteristics to meet the need of the users, said Fagan.
McGowan, meanwhile, said that the working relationship with the city is "phenomenal." "You can't imagine how critical it is to pick the right community to work with," he said. "The car was back and forth because the springs and brakes needed to be enhanced, because the car has so much pick up and go. We want to make sure it meets the needs of the department."
Reed said that the city is fortunate to have industry leaders like Oglevee and a dedicated police chief interested in bettering the community. "These opportunities take a lot of time and commitment," she said. "This will be a cost-saving measure for the city and at the same time we are participating in the governor's Growing Greener initiative."
With the "complete support" of Mayor Judy Reed and council, he added, the vehicle as it was initially manufactured made its final trip to the Windber-based firm.
Oglevee, a Connellsville-area resident and co-owner of United First Responders (UFR), said while other communities expressed interest in participating in the program, he wanted the ground-breaking technology to have its trial run in his hometown. UFR, of Lemont Furnace, manufactures products and provides training services for first responders, military and the private sector to detect bioterrorist threats.
It was the working relationship of his company and Coherent and his friendship with Cooper that resulted in the local project, said Oglevee. "We talked about the cost-savings; pennies a day versus dollars a day," he said. "No oil changes or tune-up or trips to the gas pump."
According to the developers, the all-electric vehicle costs approximately 35-cents a day to maintain while a gas fueled police car costs more than $3.50 per day to maintain. This, of course, does not include the price of gasoline. Coherent engineer Jack Fagan said that after the car arrived it was completely stripped of the transmission, motor and all other equipment that could not be powered by electricity.
"One of the key factors was making sure that our electric motor was directly aligned with the car's in-place components," he said. "You already have a car; you want to make sure that everything is functioning properly, such as the brake lights and front head lights."
The interior of the car is configured somewhat differently with no gearshift or speedometer. Three buttons - forward, neutral and reverse have replaced the shifter, while the speed is shown on a computer screen. The vehicle makes very little sound, eases quickly from slower to higher speeds and only requires an electrical outlet and power cord to recharge. Cooper said that the car is capable of operating for a full eight-hour shift before needing to be recharged. Currently its use is restricted to dry, daylight hours.
The Coherent representatives declined to reveal the price tag for the project. Bob McGowan, Coherent vice-president and general manager, said all costs were defrayed through the company's research and development department and was not government funded. "It is a prototype," he said, adding that the costs will decline as more vehicles are converted. "Parts alone (for the Connellsville project) were around $75,000; but that certainly is not an indication as to what it will cost in the future.
"We want to make this affordable; in the range of what an ordinary fleet car would cost." The company plans to meet with state government representatives today to discuss expanding the project to include state-operated vehicles. Lance Simmens, special assistant to Gov. Ed Rendell, said the technology fits in with the state's Growing Greener initiative.
"This is an incredible opportunity," he said. "It plays very nicely into the energy independent strategy the governor has been promoting the past several years. "This is the future for the environment and the economy." Simmens said the Connellsville project and similar ones in development do hold the governor's interest. "We are very interested in any and all opportunities to help reduce our dependence on oil and this represents one of those opportunities," he said. "We are going to do everything that we can to see it comes to fruition."
The company, said Fagan, has had inquiries by other governmental entities about the project. The technology has led to the production of a clandestine buggy-type vehicle that can be used by local police departments with rugged terrain, combat soldiers on the battlefield or golfers on the golf course. Each has its own unique characteristics to meet the need of the users, said Fagan.
McGowan, meanwhile, said that the working relationship with the city is "phenomenal." "You can't imagine how critical it is to pick the right community to work with," he said. "The car was back and forth because the springs and brakes needed to be enhanced, because the car has so much pick up and go. We want to make sure it meets the needs of the department."
Reed said that the city is fortunate to have industry leaders like Oglevee and a dedicated police chief interested in bettering the community. "These opportunities take a lot of time and commitment," she said. "This will be a cost-saving measure for the city and at the same time we are participating in the governor's Growing Greener initiative."
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Labels: all-electric, Chevy, Coherent Systems International Corp., Connellsville Police Department, day-to-day, Impala, MPG
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