NZ Police takes delivery of ELECTRIC SKODA

New Superb iV PHEV is now in intensive threephase testing to qualify as Prime 1 patrol car

The New Zealand Police took delivery of its first electric Skoda on July 22: the new Superb iV plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), which combines a 1.4-litre turbo-petrol engine with a battery pack that’s good for up to 62km of pureelectric driving. Total petrol/ electric range is up to 930km.

Like any prospective new “Prime 1” patrol vehicle, the iV will undergo a three-phase testing programme that could take up to six months before it’s approved as a primary response vehicle.

NZ Police national fleet manager Brian Yanko acknowledged the organisation’s “need to lower carbon emissions” at a media event launching the retail version of the Superb iV this week.

“Not only is this important in terms of accountability to the NZ Government’s requirements and expectations, it’s also our social responsibility.”

Yanko also explained that due to the extreme demands of Police use, “no vehicle gets a free pass”. So despite the ICE Superb already being approved as a Prime 1 vehicle, testing starts all over again for the iV.

The first phase focuses on general functionality, including performance under duress-driving and radio frequency interference. The second phase is user testing, where staff interact with the vehicle in controlled circumstances. If the vehicle passes the first two phases, it moves into real-world operation, liveried up and kitted out.

With a 3.5-hour charge time on a wallbox-type AC station and limited pure-electric range, it’s unlikely that the iV would go into service in intensive-driving environments. But if successful in testing, it will still have Prime 1 status.

“Prime 1 . . . is a sliding scale,” says Yanko. “The Auckland CBD is high use, stop-start driving that’s 24/7. But as you move out into urban areas you start to see a very different behaviour pattern. There are shifts and vehicles might come home at night, with

downtime where they could be charged.”

Skoda NZ has already supplied 70-plus vehicles to NZ Police, from an expected 350-400 for 2021; in fact, one is about to undergo its 15,000km service.

The Skoda Superb iV PHEV is on sale to the public, sans stickers and flashing lights, from $74,990 for the entry Style sedan, to $79,990 for the top Sportline wagon.