Today, Sen. Dave Min (D-Irvine) presented City of Irvine officials with $990,000 in state funding that will allow the Irvine Police Department to introduce a fleet of all-terrain and on-road electric vehicles for policing service in and around the Great Park.
The new fleet will include cutting-edge Ford Lightning trucks, Ford Mustang Mach Es, Polaris Rangers, and versatile all-terrain vehicles, marking a significant step toward modernizing the Irvine Police Department (IPD) vehicle fleet.
“Ensuring the safety of our residents and guests at the Great Park has been and will continue to be a top priority,” said Mayor Farrah N. Khan. “This all-electric fleet will not only allow us to further enhance safety in and around the park, it will allow us to do so while reducing carbon emissions. I want to thank Sen. Min for his efforts to help us enhance public safety and meet our City’s climate action goals.”
The City of Irvine has set an ambitious goal of becoming a carbon-neutral city and is developing a Climate Action and Adaptation Plan, a plan of action to measure, track, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions and climate-related risks through a framework of initiatives. The all-electric fleet brings the City closer to meeting its climate action goals.
“Today, I’m proud to announce that the State of California is making serious investments in both public safety and sustainability,” said Sen. Min. “It’s no secret that Irvine ranks among the safest cities in America and this new fleet of all-electric police vehicles will ensure that our community continues to lead with best-in-class technology. Thank you, Irvine Police Chief Michael Kent and the Irvine City Council for your strong partnership.”
The Great Park sees more than 5 million visitors annually for games at the Sports Complex, events, and to enjoy the park’s beauty and amenities. With 300 acres of new amenities under development at the park, the number of visitors will continue to grow, making the investment in the cutting-edge fleet critical for ensuring public safety.
“I am proud that the Irvine Police Department is working toward the City of Irvine’s goal of transitioning to electric vehicles by 2030,” said Irvine Police Chief Michael Kent. “Thank you to Sen. Min for supporting and funding our efforts to protect our community and our environment, as we prepare for the expansion of the Great Park over the next several years.”
A portion of the state funding secured by Sen. Min will also allow multiple charging stations to be installed at the Great Park and will be used for the purchase of state-of-the-art communications equipment, enhancing IPD’s technological capabilities.
View photos from the check presentation.