All-Electric Pick-Up Truck Joins CPD Fleet

The Cambridge Police Department has added it’s first ever fully electric pick-up truck to the fleet. The vehicle, a Ford F-150 Lightning, was acquired as part of the CPD’s on-going fleet replacement plan that seeks to increase the number of fuel efficient or fully electric vehicles in the department fleet. This particular vehicle replaces an 11-year-old gas powered SUV that had reached the end of it’s service life.

The new truck has been assigned to the Traffic Enforcement Unit where it will be utilized by the specially trained officers who conduct crash investigations. The CPD has had a dedicated Crash Investigation vehicle in the department fleet since the 1970’s when a state grant was utilized to buy the first “Accident Van” as it was then called. When working, officers assigned to the crash investigation role use this vehicle to respond to all traffic crashes within the city. They also remain on-call for significant crashes that occur during their off-hours. Given the specialized equipment the vehicle had to carry, in its earliest form the Accident Van was a large commercial type panel van. As technology has improved the department transitioned from a van to an SUV, and now to a fully electric pick-up truck. This vehicle provides the advantage of being all electric while providing the capacity to carry all the required equipment for a crash investigator.

This truck is the 2^nd fully marked, all electric vehicle in the CPD fleet. It joins a Ford Mustang Mach-E that is currently assigned to the Family & Social Justice Section and primarily used by Youth Resource Officers. The department also has several other unmarked, fully electric vehicles that are utilized for administrative and investigative duties. Later in 2025 or in early 2026 the department hopes to introduce it’s first fully electric vehicle for use in the patrol division. This marks a major step forward in support of the City's Clean Fleet Initiative and Climate Action Plan (CAP).