Queensland’s police service aims to have a fully hybrid operational fleet within two years and has started suitability testing on a range of EVs.

“Police will be adopting a ‘hybrid first’ policy for its sedans and SUV fleet, and will progressively replace all non-hybrids with new, more efficient hybrid vehicles,” police minister Mark Ryan said in a statement.

Acting Deputy Commissioner Mark Wheeler said QPS vehicles currently clock up around 1.5 million kilometres each week, or 77 million kilometres a year.

He says as well as benefiting the environment by reducing emissions, switching to a hybrid fleet would also help offset fuel price hikes and increasing operational costs.

“The very nature of operational policing means our officers are constantly on the move,” Acting Deputy Commissioner Wheeler said in a statement on Thursday.

“We know the vehicles must be fit for purpose, reliable and able to be used in challenging circumstances.

“We are aiming to achieve a 100 percent hybrid sedan and SUV fleet within two years, subject to supply constraints and operational requirements.”

Almost three quarters of QPS operational vehicles currently low emission hybrid vehicles, the government says, and QPS will leverage it’s rooftop solar assets as it moves to a fully electric vehicle future.

Logan district is the leading state with 46 per cent of its fleet hybridized, while Brisbane Region and Southeast Region have hit 40 per cent hybridisation.

Queensland is working to achieve 70 per cent renewable energy by 2032.

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