The Barrington Police Department made history this month.

Barrington became the first police department in the state to acquire an electric vehicle for use in police operations. Barrington officials purchased a Ford Mustang Mach-E all-wheel drive electric vehicle. The Mach-E has a range of approximately 230 miles on a full charge, and will be used as a supervisor’s vehicle. 

According to a press release from the town, the department’s experience with the new Mach-E will help officials determine if they will consider purchasing more electric vehicles for police work in the future. 

“The purchase of a Ford Mustang Mach-E, an all-electric vehicle, demonstrates our commitment to climate resiliency without sacrificing performance," Police Chief Mike Correia said.

Members of the Barrington Police Department, including Chief Correia, had an opportunity to test drive the Mustang Mach-E a few weeks ago. 

Barrington Town Council President Michael Carroll said purchasing the Mach-E was an important step for the town to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels.

“The Mach-E also ensures that our police department has the equipment needed to continue to protect this community with the excellence and professionalism we have come to expect from them,” he said. 

Barrington is reportedly working toward creating a “greener fleet” of town-owned vehicles. According to the press release, Barrington officials are working with National Grid to complete a fleet study that will identify vehicles that should be replaced with electric vehicles going forward as part of the town’s vehicle replacement schedule. The town’s Resilience and Energy Committee has been advocating for the switch to electric vehicles, after researching options and experiences of other communities that are also going electric.

Said Barrington Town Manager Phil Hervey: “Inventory has been very difficult to find, but we will continue to look for opportunities to acquire more electric vehicles for the police department, as well as public works and the building office,” Mr. Hervey said, adding that the senior center could also be a candidate for switching to electric vehicles. 

According to the press release, the police department will charge the Mach-E at the town hall, where one of the town’s two public fast chargers (Level 3 chargers) are located. That station can charge up to 80 percent of the electric vehicle’s battery within 30 to 60 minutes. 

The public also has access to the Level 2 chargers at the Police Cove Park commuter parking lot on County Road. 

The town is working with National Grid to add electric vehicle charging stations at the Barrington Public Safety Building, where the police and fire departments are located, as well as at the Barrington Department of Public Works office on Upland Way. 

The Barrington Town Council approved the purchase of the Mach-E vehicle during its March 7 meeting. The town purchased the vehicle from Tasca Automotive of Seekonk, Mass. for $50,294. Funding for the purchase came from the town’s police vehicle capital reserve account ($40,294) and the American Rescue Plan federal funds ($10,000).

The council approved the purchase unanimously.