evee Central

Mass. cities are adding electric vehicles to their fleets: How it’s going

DANVERS, Mass. — Towns and cities north of Boston have added all-electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrids to their municipal fleets, including in their police, building, public works and traffic enforcement divisions. But do these vehicles perform as they should, even in public safety situations? Do they save money by using less gas and/or requiring less regular maintenance? We checked in with some local officials to find out.

Here’s a look at some of the hybrid and electric vehicles being used by municipalities north of Boston::

• Beverly: 2 electric school buses; 3 electric vehicles in public safety — a squad car, one for the school resource officer, and one for traffic enforcement
• Ipswich: 1 Tesla for the police chief; 4 gas/electric hybrid Ford Explorers for officers.
• Marblehead: 2 Ford Interceptor hybrid cruisers were ordered for the Police Department; 1 Chevy Volt in the Building Department
• North Andover: 2 all-electric vehicles, purchased with funds from a grant in the amount of $169,390 under the Green Communities Act.
• Saugus: 2 electric vehicles are used by the parking enforcement officer and the DPW
• Swampscott: 3 Ford hybrid cruisers in the Police Department
• Somerville: All front-line police cruisers are hybrids
• Topsfield: 1 Ford Mustang Mach-E in the Police Department

Two Ford Interceptor hybrid cruisers were ordered for the Marblehead Police Department as part of the fiscal 2021 capital improvement package.

“It has the ability to kind of go into a sleep mode, unlike a traditional 24-hour running cruiser,” said Police Chief Dennis King. “It kind of shuts itself down and monitors it, which has nothing but positive effects on the wear and tear of a vehicle, which, for police, is a big deal. Wear and tear is 24 hours a day, seven days a week, so anytime you can reduce the number of hours that it’s in operation, you’re going to see savings.”