Low-cost electric vehicle helps police go green
Ray Pitz / Sherwood Gazette
The city of Sherwood is renting this EZ-GO vehicle, and although it can only top out at under 30 mph, the electric car is low cost and environmentally friendly.
No, that miniature police vehicle you’ve seen driving around town isn’t a shrunk-down version of a Sherwood Police Department car, rather it’s a new electric car designed to save money and benefit the environment.
The EZ-GO vehicle is expected to be used mostly by the city’s code enforcement officer, but because of its quiet motor, could be used for stealth police work as well
Police Chief Jeff Groth said he believes the vehicle benefit the city by saving hundreds of dollars in gas.
“We have this on a one-year, no charge rental agreement,” he said.
At the end that period, the city will determine if they will purchase the cart, which has an asking cost of $14,500.
But even at that amount, officials believe the electric car will pay for itself in two to four years.
City Manager Jim Patterson, who also uses an EZ-GO vehicle to get around town, said he expects the police vehicle to get more than 45 miles on a single charge.
Meanwhile, another electric vehicle is expected to be put into service for use by the public works department. That vehicle could be used to tow lawn mowers if needed.
Groth said plans are to add a flashing police light bar to the car soon.
Patterson has already seen for himself just how beneficial a quiet vehicle can be.
Last summer, he and his wife were driving through Stella Olson Park when they surprised two juveniles who had painted graffiti on park facilities and were ditching the can.
The EZ-GO can reach speeds of 28 mph. Under state law, electric vehicles are restricted to roads with speed limits of 35 mph or less, which would cover all roads inside the city limits.