The cantonal police in Basel, Switzerland, are continuing their transition to electric vehicles, with a Mercedes eVito now in use as a patrol vehicle, replacing a Volkswagen T6.1. The move is part of a broader fleet update that will see additional eVito models replace other VW vans in the coming months.
The police are also adding electric motorcycles to their fleet, specifically the Zero DSR/X, which will be deployed both for routine patrols and major public events.
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“The requirements for a service vehicle in Bettingen are very different from the requirements for other service vehicles,” the police stated, explaining the decision to replace a Skoda Octavia stationed in Bettingen with an electric Skoda Enyaq. Authorities noted that the higher ground clearance of the Enyaq made it a suitable replacement for the region’s terrain.
Basel’s police fleet gained international recognition in 2019 after adding seven Tesla vehicles, which have remained in service longer than initially expected.
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Last month, the force confirmed that these Teslas would continue operating beyond their planned usage period. The department currently manages a fleet of approximately 200 vehicles, including eight Nissan Leafs, though only one is marked for official police use.
Source: bs.ch