Ford Motor Co. has announced that the Mustang Mach-E it sent off to tackle the Michigan State Police 2022 model year evaluation has passed, which is likely to bode well for the possibility of future fleet sales. But let’s not put the cart before the proverbial horse just yet. While Ford has had a long and fruitful history furnishing quality police vehicles, it has also offered up models that later required your author to do some research to figure out what “pursuit-rated” actually means.
The Mach-E passing the MSP’s gauntlet could simply mean that it didn’t endure a catastrophic failure while zipping around Grattan Raceway and we’re a little over a month away from getting comparative metrics for all vehicles tested earlier this month. However, Ford wanted to get out ahead of the test results so it can continue hyping the EV.
From Ford:
The Ford Pro all-electric police pilot vehicle based on the 2021 Mustang Mach-E SUV just became the first all-electric vehicle to pass the rigorous Michigan State Police 2022 model year evaluation. Testing included acceleration, top speed, braking and high-speed pursuit, as well as emergency response handling characteristics. Michigan State Police is one of two law enforcement agencies that annually test new model year police vehicles and publish the results for use by agencies nationwide.
“The fact that the Mustang Mach-E successfully stood up to the grueling Michigan State Police evaluation demonstrates that Ford can build electric vehicles that are capable, tough and reliable enough for even the most challenging jobs,” said Ted Cannis, CEO of Ford Pro. “We understand the needs of our commercial customers and are committed to unlocking new electrification opportunities for them.”
While the Michigan State Police test vehicle dynamics, we’re equally interested in how officers find the Mach-E’s ergonomics. Ease of use is something that’s meticulously evaluated during testing and the competition (most of which is comprised of large domestic sedans, SUVs, and pickups) has already achieved high marks in years past. If the Mach-E turns out to be harder to live with than a Dodge Charger, chances are most departments aren’t going to care about the fueling advantages of an all-electric vehicle.
Dependability will be another matter. Police have traditionally preferred vehicles that can endure routine abuse without putting up a fuss. While the testing at Grattan cannot mimic the abuses your average squad car might endure through its lifespan, it does represent a couple of days of habitual thrashing and is likely to give a sense of what the Ford can and cannot handle. We’ll know more in November, when the Michigan State Police 2022 model year evaluation is released in earnest.
[Image: Ford Motor Co.]
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