The Sterling Heights, Michigan, Police Department's electric vehicle pilot program is moving forward with encouraging results. The agency's first all-electric patrol unit — a Chevrolet Blazer EV PPV — has been in daily use within both the patrol and traffic enforcement bureaus. 

The vehicle entered service earlier this year and is one of the first purpose-built pursuit-rated EVs in Michigan. 

How Will the Vehicle Be Used?

The vehicle was assigned to the command fleet and has been placed on patrol. This is notable because many agencies are still opting to use their EVs for administrative duties as they test the vehicles’ capabilities.

The department is also using the EV as part of a pilot program to see what it can do. 

Earlier this year, a city spokesperson told Government Fleet that the vehicle was chosen, in part, because it is police pursuit rated.

A dedicated charging station for the EV is in place at the department. Multiple other chargers are also available across the city.

Feedback from the public has been positive. While driving the vehicle back from an upfitter, a civilian stopped a member of the team and commented on how ‘sharp’ the vehicle looked and was surprised that it was 100% electric.

The vehicle was unveiled for the community at a ribbon cutting ceremony on Jan. 22.

Preparing Officers to Use the Vehicle

Officers were given the chance to drive the vehicle during Emergency Vehicle Operations training.

A tutorial on operating the EV was also provided, highlighting the differences from ICE vehicles. 

Among the initial differences drivers tend to notice with EVs are their ability to accelerate quickly and the regenerative braking capabilities.

When operating an EV, regenerative braking is noticeable when the driver takes their foot off the gas pedal because the vehicle has a slight braking effect, essentially acting like a gentle brake application.

Maintaining the Blazer EV PPV

The city expects to see cost savings in maintenance due to reduced preventive maintenance needs.

The fleet maintenance team received guidance from General Motors to aid in preparing for EV maintenance. According to the department, maintenance demands have so far been minimal, with only a few minor fixes required since the vehicle entered service. Data collection on performance, maintenance, and cost-effectiveness is still being developed, but early feedback has been positive enough to support continued use.

While the vehicle itself produces no tailpipe emissions, producing the electricity to charge it does. Still, it will have a far lower emissions output than the ICE model it is replacing.

The agency compared the emissions use with the Ford Police Interceptor Utility vehicle, using 2022 consumption data.

In 2022, the Ford Explorer produced 13.688 metric tons of CO2e annually, while the EV Chevy Blazer would have emitted just 3.7865 metric tons of CO2e. That represents a 72% reduction. 

The reduction is expected to improve further due to a recent change which increased the share of renewable energy in the electricity grid.

Highlighting the City’s Sustainability Initiatives

The city has also been testing EVs in other departments as part of its "Think Sterling Green" initiative, which is focused on creating opportunities for the local government, businesses, and residents to prioritize the health and safety of the community through making more sustainable choices.

Last year, the city began introducing a variety of EVs into its fleet to evaluate the practicality and efficiency of the vehicles for municipal use.

Expanding the Use of EVs in the Sterling Heights PD Fleet Beyond the Initial Pilot

After a year in service, city administrators will measure and evaluate metrics from the pilot program to determine whether EVs should be expanded across the entire fleet.

Building on the initial rollout, Sterling Heights has already ordered an additional Blazer EV to join the operations fleet. Expansion beyond these initial vehicles will require infrastructure improvements, as the department currently only has a limited number of charging docks behind the station. 

Discussions are underway about using EVs within the Traffic Unit once charging capacity grows, signaling the department’s intent to scale up as resources allow.

Editor's Note: This article was originally published in January 2025 and was updated in September 2025 for continued relevance.