NZ Police actively testing plug-in hybrid Skoda as it moves to lower its emissions

Friday, 23 July 2021

The first of the new Skoda police patrol vehicles is revealed in Wellington.

The New Zealand Police has confirmed it is actively testing Skoda’s first electric plug-in hybrid vehicle for police duties.

One Skoda Superb iV has been delivered to Police and is undergoing a three-phase testing process to determine if it is fit for duty. This will take up to six months, starting with tests on performance, safety, and any potential radio frequency interference.

Phase two involves user testing in controlled environments, where the car goes to staff for honest feedback. Assuming phases one and two are passed, the car will then be dressed in Police uniform and sent out for real-world assessment. If that goes well, the plug-in will get the tick for Police use.

The NZ Police has taken the delivery of one plug-in hybrid Skoda Superb iV for testing.

NZ Police’s fleet manager, Brian Yanko, said there is a “need to lower the carbon emissions in the NZ Police” at the launch for the civilian Superb iV yesterday, adding that it is a common goal.

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Skoda NZ general manager, Rodney Gillard, with the Police-spec Superb.

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“Not only is this important for NZ Police’s accountability to meet government requirements and expectations, but it’s also our social responsibility.”

The Superb iV emits just 40g/km of CO2, according to the WLTP testing cycle, compared to 162g/km and 176g/km for the 162kW FWD and 206kW AWD Superbs already on the fleet.

According to Skoda New Zealand’s general manager, Rodney Gillard, the PHEV was not tested earlier because the tender for police vehicles says they must be available in the 2021 calendar year and, at the time, the iV was not confirmed for New Zealand.

Police must give the Superb iV the full testing cycle, despite the non-plug-in Superb already passing the examinations as “no vehicle gets a free pass”. However, Yanko said Police is wanting to move fast with the iV’s testing.

Yanko also said that, should the iV pass scrutineering, the plug-in nature of the car means it will probably be put into service in areas with more vehicular downtime, like suburbs or smaller urban areas.

“The Auckland CBD is high use, stop-start driving that's 24/7. But as you move out into urban areas you start to see a very different behaviour pattern. There are shifts and vehicles might come home at night, with downtime where they could be charged.'

Skoda has already supplied more than 70 vehicles to the Police, well on track for hitting its target of 350-400 units. In fact, one is about to go in for its 15,000km service. The contract is for 2000 cars, with between 500-550 vehicles to be supplied annually from 2022. Gillard said the Police contract is ‘Category One’, which means it takes priority over dealer stock.

Speaking of, the Superb iV is on sale now. Prices starting at $71,990 for the Style sedan, $76,990 for the Sportline sedan, $74,990 for the Style wagon and $79,990 for the Sportline wagon. All those prices are eligible for the $5750 Clean Car Discount rebate for plug-in hybrids.