Skoda’s police programme is now on paw patrol – and might power up to electric play.

HAVING now committed to electrified – by signing off on acceptance of a plug-in electric version of the Superb wagon for operational use – Police are now mulling the ultimate step; putting a fully electric car on patrol.

This has come from Skoda NZ as it relays other lawful information in respect to the brand’s immersion into crime-fighting.

Another fresh lead is that, in addition to choosing the partially electric Superb wagon to cruise with hundreds of lookalike, but purely petrol, Prime One patrol versions, the Force’s dog unit has also chosen the Superb load-all as their new ride.

The Kodiaq sports utility was also in the running for a role that will finally see the cops’ well-worn Holden Commodore vans put into retirement.

With those cases sorted, the next investigation is Operation Electric. Unsurprisingly, the chief suspect is another Skoda; the Enyaq iV (above and below). Coming on local sale next year, this wholly battery-dedicated compact crossover has already taken to the beat with some European forces.

Skoda NZ is going to reveal its Enyaq product programme in a couple of weeks’ time. It’s the latest of a series of announcements from VW Group distributor Giltrap Group in respect to the cars on the common MEB electric car platform that are coming here. Audi and VW have had their say; after Skoda, there’ll only be Cupra to air thought. 

At the moment, Skoda NZ has just one Enyaq iV to its name. This evaluation vehicle is a single motor edition in a spec chosen for the United Kingdom.

Skoda NZ boss Rodney Gillard says the model is already subject to police inquiries.

 “They are looking at Enyaq, absolutely. They're looking at electric vehicles. Obviously they’ve got a lot of work to do in that area.”

While he declined to go into further detail about either the Enyaq’s due date here, or the level of police interest in it, he did confirm a number of Superb PHEVs are now in active duty across the country, having passed selection with flying colours.

“They (the police) now have plug-in hybrids in service as we speak. They've got them spread around the country in different applications learning exactly what an electric plug-in hybrid can do in the police force.”

Gillard said that Skoda New Zealand has now delivered more than 500 conventional petrol cars, mainly Superb wagons but also some Kodiaqs, the for use as frontline patrol cars in the first year of the supply deal. That’s beyond the call; the plan was to get 350 to 400 into service. But the Skoda factory said it could do better: And did.

“We announced the deal in November, 2020. Obviously, we had to order and supply the vehicles, and by the time they got on the ground and signed it off, it took until June (last year) the first cars to be delivered,” he said.

“The incredible supply from Skoda Auto means we’ve been able to supply and, thanks to not having supply issues, actually the buffer stock. It is a testament to the support from Skoda Auto during such a difficult time, and how important these emergency services businesses are globally to Skoda Auto.”

Those cars are proving hugely reliable, with no real issues, and are being used to full potential.

 Gillard says some vehicles in the major metropolitan areas have already clocked more than 40,000 kilometres – but that’s nothing compared to one based in a rural North Island town that is on daily highway patrol. Remarkably, that car has just ticked over 100,000kms. In 10 months.

The police have also started using a specially-prepared five-seater version (ditching the third row that comes in the standard car) of the AWD 32kW Kodiaq Style SUV, which was also in the running to become the dog unit.

That task, however, has been given to the Superb wagon following an evaluation on both vehicles.

“They [the police] have done a lot of research with the dog handlers and the people that run the unit, and worked with Skoda New Zealand to select the Superb wagon to be the dog unit,” Gillard said.

 “The very first one has been modified and produced. It's been fabricated and it's just getting finalised. Next week we sign off, and it should be on the road in the coming weeks.”

UK Police also use both Skodas as their dog vehicles; Gillard and a top cop visited the London division and also meet with the specialist company that does the fit out. That outfit has shared IP with the local development team.

It’s much more than just putting a caged area into the boot. Proper kennels are built into that space. The UK design has temperature monitoring and a front escape hatch, allowing the dogs to evacuate the vehicle quickly if needs be. There’s also a storage area for safety equipment in front of the kennels.

Aside from provisions for the canine coppers, the UK dog vehicles also get features specific to the humans who will operate it.

There’s 360-degree emergency services lighting and an engine run lock system, which keeps the engine running when the key has been removed.

That means the engine can essentially be used as a generator, powering lights, radios or computers without running down the battery.