The Vauxhall Ampera will be put through its paces when it is trialled by police officers in Northern Ireland.
Vauxhall handed over the vehicle to the Police Service Northern Ireland (PSNI) at an event called eDrive at the Titanic Museum in Belfast – a spectacle that was sponsored by the Northern Ireland Government's Department of Regional Development.
To be used as an incident response vehicle, the Ampera will be employed by the PSNI in Belfast city centre.
Marcus Belshaw, head of transport at the PSNI, said it is hoped that the Ampera will be able to respond well to callouts while also providing significant cost savings and emission reductions.
Quentin Wilson, motoring journalist and celebrity, attended the handing over of the car from Vauxhall to the PSNI, as did chairman of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders' Electric Vehicle Committee and environment strategy manager at Vauxhall Ian Allen.
Mr Wilson stated: "If the Northern Ireland Police are as happy as I am with my Ampera then I'm sure they will have a long and productive relationship with the vehicle."
The Ampera won the European Car of the Year 2012 award and boasts both an electric motor and a petrol engine, which could make it a suitable motor for the emergency situations often faced by the PSNI.
Dick Ellam, manager of Vauxhall Special Vehicles, said the manufacturer is delighted that the PSNI has decided to trial the vehicle.
Mr Ellam added: "We are confident that they will be impressed by the Ampera's durability, performance and economy."
Those in Northern Ireland looking at the latest Vauxhall deals may decide to give the Ampera some consideration, especially as charging point infrastructure for electric vehicles in the country is well developed.
At present, electric vehicle owners in Northern Ireland are unlikely to ever be more than ten miles from the nearest charging station.
The Ampera was also recently chosen for trial by Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust, which wanted to test the car as part of its emergency fleet.
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Posted by Fred Mason