Forty more police vehicles will test anti-idling technology as Ottawa Police Services looks for innovative ways to cut spending.
Normal police vehicles sit idling for hours to make sure their computer systems are able to function at a moment’s notice. The shut-off system, developed by the National Research Council of Canada, essentially allows the cars to be turned off but still allow the computers to function properly while not draining the car’s battery.
The technology includes a battery to run electronics, a small motor to provide heat and an automatic vehicle shut-off system to prevent idling.
The testing started in 2009 when Ottawa Police Services installed the system in two patrol cars. After seeing the technology exceed expectations, Ottawa has given the go-ahead to test a larger group of cars.
Financially, the initiative has potential to help curb spending. With this program in place, the force has a chance to drop the cost of idling cars from $20,000 a year to about $14,000 a year per car.
The Police Services Board approved to continue testing the anti-idling equipment.
With the board’s approval, 10 vehicles at the police headquarters, located on the corner of Elgin Street and Argyle Avenue, will start to roll out in the new year.
According to a report by the National Research Council, a police car idles for approximately 67 per cent of a 10-hour patrol.
Insp. Peter Johnston, manager of material management for the Ottawa Police Services, says the force has a chance to make a real point about lowering Ottawa’s carbon footprint while also benefiting taxpayers.The hardest part has been changing police mentalities, says Johnston.
“A police officer knows not to turn their car off if everything’s going to die. So we have to rewire how the officers think.”
The technology also has the capabilities of outlasting the cars. Police cars are decommissioned after three years of use, but the research council says the technology has a life span of about 10 years. This means the technology would be able to outlast three or four police cars.