Police set to trial plug-in car

Police are preparing to start putting a Skoda hybrid through its paces when the marque’s first shipment of the low-emissions vehicles arrives in New Zealand this month.

Natalie O’Brien, Skoda’s marketing manager, has confirmed the carmaker is bringing its first batch of Superb iV plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) into the country for a media launch.

It is believed one of the cars in that shipment will be delivered to the NZ Police for testing, reports Newsroom.

The police were criticised when it announced it was replacing its Holden Commodores with a fleet of more than 2,000 Skoda Superb station wagons, which at that point all ran on standard fuel. 

At the time officials said there were no viable low-emissions options for its fleet, but that has changed with Skoda fast-tracking the arrival of its PHEV. 

A police spokesman says the department has been holding discussions with Skoda about its desire to trial new technology, including hybrid and electric vehicles.

“This month we will begin testing a Skoda PHEV vehicle to establish if it meets the requirements to trial in the police operational environment,” he adds.