NEW YORK -- New York City police have found a way to help save the planet and perhaps sneak up on bad guys at the same time: an electric, ultra-quiet scooter.
The police department will begin road testing four of the plug-in Vectrix scooters early next month - part of a broader campaign to make the United States' largest police department a more environmentally friendly one as well.
The 36,000-officer department has been looking for ways to update its massive motor fleet to use less gas. A handful of hybrid police cars and so-called flex-fuel vehicles, which can run on both gasoline and ethanol, are already on the road.
"Police effectiveness comes first, but where we can combine environmentally friendly vehicles without compromising the mission, we do," said Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly.
New York was the first to take a serious look at Vectrix, said Andrew MacGowen, president of the company.
"The New York environment is going to be very true test," he said.
MacGowen said the Vectrix scooters, assembled in Poland, are the first all-electric vehicles to be government-certified to travel on any highway, street or road.
The Vectrix has a top speed of more than 60 mph (96 kph) and can be recharged simply by plugging into a standard outlet for two hours.
The Vectrix can only travel 40 to 60 miles per charge, but police officials said they may be willing to sacrifice some range for zero emissions.
Detective Derek Siconola, who will train riders, suggested the quiet engines also offer a side benefit: the element of surprise.
"You could easily sneak up on somebody if they don't expect it," he said.
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Posted by: justanotherparatrooper
Oh brother!
Posted by: kwflatbed
A NYPD Detective sits atop a Vectrix electric motor scooter in front of departmental headquarters in New York, Wednesday. The eco-friendly scooter will be put into use as soon as weather permits. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
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