The Western Australian Police Force is testing two zero-emissions vehicles: Hyundai Ioniq 5 electric crossover, and Toyota Mirai hydrogen fuel cell sedan.
This test – and public exercise – is intended to showcase whether these electric vehicles have potential for future frontline police applications.
Both Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Toyota Mirai has been decorated with WA Police Force branding, police radios, lights and sirens.
The Ioniq 5 police vehicle will be tested in areas such as Midland, Rockingham, Geraldton and Bunbury, while the Toyota Mirai will be used in Fremantle County.
WA Assistant Police Commissioner Allan Adams said the acquisition of these electric vehicles is part of the Western Australian climate policywhich outlines the government’s proposed actions to transition to net zero emissions.
The Hyundai Ioniq 5 limited supply first arrived here in late 2021 and is now sold in single- and dual-engine configurations.
Both use a 72.6kWh lithium-ion battery pack, with rear-wheel drive a single motor delivering 160kW of power and 350Nm of torque, and dual AWD 225kW and 605Nm.
The rear-wheel drive variant can sprint from 0-100km/h in 7.4 seconds, while the all-wheel drive version can sprint in 5.2 seconds. The driving range is between 415 km and 430 km.
As detailed beforeHyundai Australia is selling Ioniq 5 directly to consumers, skipping the wholesale step for its franchise system, due to scarce supply.
Toyota Mirai otherwise available only to fleets of vehicles and completely unavailable for consumer purchase.
While the Hyundai, like all BEVs, runs on rechargeable batteries, the Mirai takes a much less common hydrogen fuel cell approach, used for heavy-duty commercial applications in particular.
It uses pressurized hydrogen (which can be generated with renewable energy through electrolysis) and harnesses energy from a chemical reaction when it mixes with oxygen from the air. This spins the engines, with water (H2O) as the only waste.
According to Toyota, the Toyota FCEV can hold up to 5.6kg of pressurized hydrogen in its three tanks and be filled within 5 minutes – faster than charging an EV – and cover about 650 km per charge.
Power is handled by a single rear-mounted electric motor that generates around 134kW and 300Nm. The 0-100km/h acceleration time is 9.2 seconds and the top speed is 175km/h.
The Mirai also has a 1.2kWh lithium-ion battery to store the energy generated by the fuel cell and regenerative braking. Where FCEV drops are due to the current lack of hydrogen refueling infrastructure.
Both the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Toyota Mirai earned a five-star ANCAP safety rating.
WA Police Minister, Hon. Paul Papalia, calling the news a “first for the nation,” added that the force has one of the largest fleets of vehicles in the state government.
Despite his claims, the New South Wales Police had previously a Hyundai Kona Electric joins the fleet as part of a 12-month trial, and Queensland Police have a Hyundai Nexo FCEV as well as part of the test.
Most recent, WA Police ordered 55 Skoda Superb . wagons to help its extensive highway network.
The suitability of the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Toyota Mirai as future police vehicles will be assessed at the end of the test.
THAN: Everything Hyundai Ioniq 5
THAN: Everything Toyota Mirai
