The lucid air could be the fastest police car in the world
Lucid took to social media this week to show off the first photos of an air patrol car prototype that he recently participated in an evaluation program run by the California Highway Patrol.
The photo shows the changed air with police lights and coloring, push bar, PA system and steel wheels.
Lucid does not provide details about the car's powertrain, but the Air Sapphire's three-motor setup will make the electric police cruiser the fastest in the world. With 1,234 horsepower on tap, the Sapphire will rocket from rest in just 1.9 seconds to 60mph, then pass a quarter mile in 9.0 seconds and continue to accelerate to a top speed of 205mph.
Lucid also did not provide any internal shots, but it is possible that the company attached typical items of a police car to the vehicle. These include separate computers and communication systems, storage of weapons and other equipment, and sometimes prisoner dividers. Police cars also typically come with trim materials that are easier to clean and better stand up to wear and tear.
The California Highway Patrol currently relies on a fleet that consists mainly of patrol cars based on the gas-powered Ford Explorer and Dodge Chargers, but the air with its long range could make a viable option in the near future.
It's easy to imagine a police officer using an electric patrol car to quietly approach a suspect or move quickly ahead of a fleeing vehicle. The quiet and smooth operation of EVs can also help officers calm down, reduce stress levels and focus on their duties. Some agencies have already begun to add electric cars to their fleet, like the New York Police Department, which added the Ford Mustang Mach-E to its fleet in 2022.
Growing interest has led many companies to explore the potential of electric police cars. Dodge recently teased a police version of its new charger Daytona EV, and Chevrolet showed off a police version of its blazer EV last year. Tesla Tuner unplugged performance is also ready to build a police version of the Tesla Model S plaid and Tesla Cyber Truck.
