Incoming wholly battery-compelled Skodas might also be on Police’s watch list, but will any fit the bill?

FUTURE battery-compelled vehicles coming from Skoda that step away from the fossil fuel-reliance of a frugal car accepted for front line trial seem on Police’s radar.

Whether the Czech brand has anything upcoming that’s right-sized for the force’s requirement seems highly doubtful, however – all information from its head office suggests a focus on much smaller cars.

Nothing totally battery-compelled to match the Superb station wagon Police have gone big on was mentioned in a recent briefing in Europe, but since then it has shown its Enyaq iV electric car in a United Kingdom police livery (below). It is also destined for trial on British roads.

Police enthusiasm here for a full electric is indicated in a release from the Czech brand’s distributor.

Skoda NZ was reporting on how well a plug-in hybrid version of the petrol Superb station wagon now on patrol came through a just-concluded preliminary test to gauge its suitability for everyday policing.

In commenting about the initial just-completed trial of the Superb iV by Police at Manawatu’s Manfeild race track, Skoda New Zealand notes that it “and the NZ Police are in close discussions around Skoda’s electric vehicle programme and future models due to be released in New Zealand.”

The next of those future products set to arrive, quite potentially in 2022 or early 2023 - a firm timeframe has yet to be shared – is the Enyaq iV.

This medium model is built upon the Volkswagen Group’s MEB platform that underpins a variety of models from the German make’s family of brands, none of which have yet to come on distributor-backed sale in NZ yet.

Enyaq presents as a crossover in five-door hatch and as a fastbacked coupe. The latter has just released in Europe, along with comment about future electrics.

MEB platform cars are expected to become the core electric products in Skoda’s immediate future, yet those alluded to at Enyaq iV Coupe’s Europe market launch a fortnight ago might conceivably struggle to meet the NZ Police remit for a large-sized car.

Skoda chief executive Thomas Schafer said then that the next three EVs will be smaller than Enyaq, which is already in a size category below the Superb.

Confirmation of additional EVs comes after the brand indicated internationally last September that its PHEV drivetrains – used in NZ by the Superb and smaller Octavia – are a temporary technology.

Schafer has reportedly said the ‘iV’ approach Police are trialling, that blends a 1.4-litre petrol engine with an electric motor that can optimally support up to 62kms’ pure battery-driven range, won’t be further developed and could well be abandoned within a few years.

Police nonetheless seem keen to use the Superb iV as a billboard model for its intent to fulfil commitment to reduce their carbon footprint.

The type’s public release in NZ eight months ago timed in with the force’s announcement that it would employ the fully petrol-fed Superb wagon as its ‘prime one’ patrol vehicle, a role previously held by the Holden Commodore.

Police presently have three iV models on fleet, one designated as an executive pool car, one in full frontline livery for general use and another as an unmarked operation vehicle.

They are identical in external design to the wholly petrol 162KW front-wheel drive and a 206KW all-wheel drive models now serving the country as patrol vehicles.

The iV model came into the spotlight after public feedback questioning the sustainability of running fully petrol cars as NZ enters the Clean Car era, with regulation penalising high (no less than 192 grams of CO2 per kilometre) emission new cars from April 1, and giving credit to those with ultra-low output.

With a cited CO2 output of 40g/km, the iV has a much lighter carbon footprint than the fully petrol cars and falls into the ‘clean’ camp.

The iV is also a fuel miser, with a cited economy of 1.5 litres per 100km occurring when its 13kWh battery-fed 85kW electric motor and engine are working optimally, and 6.8L/100km overall. Total range of more than 900km is cited.

The model is close to the front-drive fully petrol car for performance, with the powertrain making 160kW and offering a similar 0-100kmh time, but overall top speed is lower.

Skoda NZ general manager Rodney Gillard says the type has demonstrated in the public sphere that the sustainable choice can also offer performance and safety that matches its petrol counterpart. Hence why it was keen to get an example into Police hands.

That arrangement has now seen the type undergo, and pass, its first rigorous testing for selection; a period of hard lap work on Manfeild Circuit Chris Amon in Feilding, including heavy braking.

Skoda NZ says the car performed well with the added weight of Police kit and equipment (it is already heavier than the petrol Superb, and offers less luggage space, due to its battery) . It also passed muster for radio frequency interference and road trials.

The next step sees the car being used on duty by frontline staff to test its capabilities in a range of operational settings, to seek feedback on its performance.

One element that comes into play is the time the car requires for battery recharging.

Skoda’s PHEV technology does not support DC fast charging, which means full replenishment requires 3.5-hours on a wallbox-type AC station at best and seven hours on a domestic socket at worst.

The latter scenario has been identified as a probable by Brian Yanko, who manages Police fleet servicing.

He nonetheless says it’s expected the model “will be suited to frontline duties in an environment allowing for downtime where it can recharge.

“Our move is to decarbonise our fleet, but any vehicle must be fully operational and fit for purpose to meet our operational requirements”, he says.

“That means they need to help keep our people safe and the New Zealand public safe.”

Gillard said his brand is thrilled the hybrid edition has progressed to front line operational testing.

“We are confident this vehicle will meet all performance and safety requirements, whilst offering substantial environmental benefits.”

“Our technology offers an all-electric, and thereby zero-emission range, of up to 62km, with a long-distance capability up to 930km, offering … the benefits of both an electric motor and a combustion engine.”

Any uptake of PHEV Superbs seems set to be extramural to the supply contract for the fully petrol models, which though under wraps here has been divulged by Skoda headquarters as being for 2000 cars, coming over four years. Conceivably an $80 million deal.

The iV Superb wagon places in the showroom for $74,990 or $79,990, depending on trim.

Police say they are committed to reduce the environmental impact of their fleet, which is currently around 3500 vehicles, including around 2200 liveried prime one cars.

Skoda has represented the Enyaq iV in police, ambulance and fire response liveries and said the car in those guises could give chase to criminals or respond to life-threatening situations with a 0-100kmh acceleration time of 8.5 seconds - though its limited top speed of 160kmh means getaway drivers will be able to outrun officers in most petrol and diesel cars.