Electric Vehicles: Nissan LEAF electric cars start patrolling Portuguese streets

 

Portuguese criminals need to take extra care if they want to avoid being caught red-handed. Local police have taken delivery of a fleet of stealthy Nissan LEAF electric vehicles, allowing them to arrive at the scene of a crime in near silence.

The eight Nissan LEAF police cars will be operated by Portugal’s PSP (Polícia de Segurança Pública) the security force responsible for policing the large urban areas of the country.

The phrase ‘looking for leads’ is about to take on a whole new meaning for the Portuguese police, for they have just taken delivery of eight Nissan LEAF electric vehicles. And leads – of the electrical variety – come as standard!

The electric cars, which have flashing blue lights and clear ‘Policia’ markings, will be used by Portugal’s PSP (Policia de Segurança) urban security force mainly as part of its Safe Schools Programme.

But if the need arises, they can be called into action just like any other police car on the force… and their near-silent running means that Portuguese criminals won’t hear them coming.

Choosing Nissan LEAF came easy to the force, which is keen to reduce its ecological footprint and lower pollution in large urban centres.

“We pride ourselves in being the first police force in the world to incorporate the 100 per cent electric Nissan LEAF as part of our 5,000 vehicle fleet,” said Superintendent Paul Gomes Valente, National Director of PSP. “It sets a new benchmark for our fleet.”

Portugal is at the forefront of Europe’s electric vehicle revolution. It was one of the first countries to commit to establishing a network of EV chargers in its cities and, as a result, was the first to sell Nissan LEAF when it was introduced in 2011.

http://www.newsroom.nissan-europe.com