Boys in blue go green with electric panda

A PLUG-IN “electric panda” has become Scotland’s first fully-operational battery powered police car.

Lothian and Borders Police have replaced a standard patrol car at the Scottish Parliament with a Mitsubishi i-MiEV as part of their efforts to reduce carbon emissions.

Plans are in place to add to the carbon neutral vehicles in the near future.

Chief Superintendent Derek Robertson, head of Lothian and Borders Police operations division, said: “The acquisition of these electric vehicles signals our intent to continually look to the future and provide the highest quality of policing whilst at the same time take significant steps to reducing our carbon footprint.”

Dave Kennan, fleet manager for Lothian and Borders Police, described the new car as “a step in the right direction”.

He said: “These cars are great at low speeds and are ideal for city centre driving.”