The Metropolitan Police has taken delivery of a BMW i3 Range Extender for use as a response vehicle across three London boroughs. It is the first time BMW’s i3 REX has been used by a UK police service and goes straight into service on the front line.
The new response vehicle has begun trials and will be used by teams across Westminster, Greenwich and Bexley for the next six months at least. The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) is, like many other public service sectors, looking at ways to reduce running costs and their environmental impact.
The i3 REX is a contender to become a key part of the fleet and it will be tested both on service as a response vehicle and by the MPS Driving School. The vehicle is being loaned to the MPS by BMW during the trial process to see whether the car would be suitable for an increased fleet presence.
Terry Hunt, Director of Centrally Delivered Support Services in the MPS, said: “The i3 is a brilliant fit with the technology-driven approach of the Met. As an organisation we are committed to keeping our carbon footprint as low as possible and innovative pilots such as this provide us with real-time experience of how that might be achieved.”
