Nov. 2024. Blues Vol 40 No. 11

to mention the

to mention the tech-integration technologies that upfitters appreciate. FORD PIU POWERTRAIN UPDATES Bringing the hybrid system to the PIU was a decision that Ford made in 2020, according to Bertino. Using a standard hybrid powertrain benefits police agencies because of their excessive idle times—40 to 60%, on average, Bertino said. The standard hybrid powertrain features a 3.3-liter, direct-injection V6 engine with a hybrid system. It offers 318 hp and 322 lb.- ft. of torque. The 2025 Ford PIU features a new, standard 12.3-inch LCD instrument cluster for “clearer information display during operation,” according to the release. It features a manual Police Pursuit Mode—activated with the click of a steering wheel button— that allows officers to put the vehicle in a high-performance tuning configuration while keeping their hands on the steering wheel. The PIU hybrid powertrain is a regenerative battery system that allows law enforcement to power onboard equipment when the vehicle’s engine is off. The hybrid powertrain works by running “on battery power until it doesn’t have enough battery left, then it’ll automatically switch over to gas,” Bertino explained. “As you drive, the battery will recharge itself. So, it’s a cyclical motion that continuously charges and drives, charges and drives.” “With an officer in idle, the vehicle can actually use that hybrid power to not only power the vehicle, but it can power all of the content in the vehicle,” she said. “Officers have a lot of equipment that they run in the vehicle. They have radios, they have radars, they have laptops—all that could be powered through that hybrid powertrain.” This will generate hundreds of dollars in savings as a result; Ford estimates savings of up to 838 gallons per year. Over a sixyear term of ownership with gas at .50 per gallon, Ford’s hybrid PIU could save a police fleet around ,500, Ford estimates. This number doesn’t include the savings agencies could realize from reduced maintenance costs due to less wear and tear on the engine from idling. Law enforcement officials now have three powertrain options with Ford PIU While the hybrid Ford PIU is standard, law enforcement fleets have additional powertrain options. Customers can choose a 3.3-liter gas engine with 285 hp and 260 lb.-ft. of torque. While Bertino touted the performance and quality of the ICE-only PIU, the vehicle’s hybrid counterpart does offer increased horsepower and torque. This is due to “the combination of the internal combustion engine with the electric motor increases the capability of torque and horsepower output beyond that of a traditional internal combustion only vehicle,” Allen Magolan, Ford Performance vehicle engineer, told FleetOwner. There is also an EcoBoost option with the PIU that delivers 400 hp and 415 lb.-ft. of torque. All powertrains, including the hybrid, have all-wheel drive. FORD PIU’S SAFETY UPGRADES AND STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES The Ford PIU is equipped with standard features to improve officer safety. These include ADAS features, such as automatic emergency braking, rear parking sensors, blind spot monitoring with cross-traffic alert, reverse brake assist, and rear cross-traffic braking. It features the Police Perimeter Alert sys- 88 The Blues - November ‘24

The Blues - November ‘24 89