- Lucid Air police car being evaluted by California Highway Patrol
- Production plans haven’t been announced
- Police version of rival Tesla Model S already available
Lucid took to social media this week to show off the first photos of an Air police car prototype that recently took part in an evaluation program run by the California Highway Patrol.
The photos show an Air modified with police lights and livery, a push bar, a PA system, and steel wheels.
Lucid hasn’t provided any details on the car’s powertrain, but the Air Sapphire’s three-motor setup would make the electric police cruiser the world’s quickest. With 1,234 hp on tap, the Sapphire will rocket to 60 mph from rest in just 1.9 seconds, pass the quarter mile in 9.0 seconds, and keep accelerating to a top speed of 205 mph.
Lucid Air police car prototype
Lucid also hasn’t provided a shot of the interior, but the company is likely to have fitted the vehicle with items typical of police cars. These include separate computer and communications systems, storage for weapons and other equipment, and sometimes prisoner partitions. Police cars also typically come with trim material that’s easy to clean and better stands up to wear and tear.
The California Highway Patrol currently relies on a fleet that’s mostly made up of police cars based on gas-powered Ford Explorers and Dodge Chargers, but an Air with its long range may make a viable option in the near future.
Lucid Air police car prototype
It’s easy to imagine cops using electric police cars to quietly approach suspects or quickly get ahead of a fleeing vehicle. The silent, smooth operation of EVs can also be calming for officers, potentially lowering their stress levels and helping them better focus on their duties. Some agencies have already started adding electric vehicles to their fleet, like the New York Police Department which in 2022 added the Ford Mustang Mach-E to its fleet.
The growing interest has spurred a lot of companies to explore the potential for electric police cars. Dodge recently teased a police version of its new Charger Daytona EV, and Chevrolet last year showed off a police version of its Blazer EV. Tesla tuner Unplugged Performance is also ready to build police versions of the Tesla Model S Plaid and Tesla Cybertruck.
