MINNEAPOLIS, MN—Polaris® Government and Defense is adding all-electric GEM® vehicles to its line of mobile, affordable, and professional public safety vehicles. Polaris firefighting, law enforcement, and rescue RANGER® and GENERAL® vehicles are proven effective and can go places cars, trucks, helicopters, and other alternatives can’t. Now, Public Safety GEM e2 and e4® vehicles are available with fully integrated emergency lighting, sirens, and PA systems. These street legal electric vehicles provide an option to those public safety customers who demand all-electric economies and sustainability in urban settings.
“Polaris is dedicated to providing public safety personnel with the best vehicle options to enable them to perform their demanding jobs at a very high level,” said Jed Leonard, vice president, Polaris Government and Defense. “GEM electric vehicles not only can accomplish what traditional vehicles can, in places they can’t, but they are more sustainable, approachable and economical as well.”
GEM vehicles can save a significant amount of money throughout the total cost of ownership. For example, the replacement of a single internal combustion vehicle can save $24,390 in total cost of ownership – initial purchase price plus annual cost of operation – over a seven-year period. Customers can calculate individual fleet savings using the Polaris GEM savings calculator online.
Street legal GEM vehicles have seen long-term success on military bases, universities, and in city centers thanks to their safe, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly mobility. The new GEM e2 and e4 Public Safety vehicles are no different, but they are also equipped with professional emergency lighting, sirens and PA systems to enable urban law enforcement to carry out tasks with familiar and proven equipment. GEM vehicles are narrower than a patrol car and can travel on sidewalks, narrow alleys, and navigate between safety bollards. And because they are all electric, they can also operate indoors.
Each GEM vehicle can be further customized for each department’s needs with rear storage options, heat, defrost, bumpers and doors. This provides a unique alternative to other mobility options like full-size vehicles or motorcycles with greater approachability and low-speed maneuverability for community relations, parking enforcement, concerts, sporting events, parades and park patrols.
GEM e2 and e4 vehicles also have long-range battery options, regenerative braking, payload options, automotive style suspension and are Low Speed Vehicle (LSV) certified when regulations call for it.
These new GEM offerings are part of a larger public safety line-up from Polaris that includes nimble, off-road and urban over-the-curb GENERAL and RANGER vehicles:
- RANGER and GENERAL firefighting units incorporate a capable pump, hose and reel, a combination tank for water and a compressed air foam suppression system and the ability draft water.
- RANGER rescue vehicles incorporate a rear attendant seat and a stokes rescue basket. Rescue personnel can select between the full-length or break-apart basket for shorter overall length when not in use. There also is a combination fire and rescue package, whic