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Takoma Park council approves three hybrid patrol SUVs after extended electric-vehicle debate
Summary
After hours of questioning about charging, pilot data and costs, the Takoma Park City Council voted to authorize purchase of three hybrid police SUVs while directing staff to pursue additional EV pilot information and budget planning for future electrification.
Mayor Talisha Searcy opened a prolonged debate on the city’s proposed purchase of three police SUVs, asking the police chief to summarize staff work on electric-vehicle options before the council voted.
Chief Duval told the council the vehicle replacement committee reviewed electric alternatives, including the pursuit-rated Chevy Blazer EV, but concluded the Blazer costs about $16,000 more per unit than the hybrid being purchased and that the city’s current and near-term charging capacity — including potential need for chargers at officers’ homes — made moving to pursuit-rated EVs premature. "I do not feel comfortable, with the current charging capabilities, of the Chevy Blazer, moving forward with it at this time," the chief said.
That assessment prompted questions from several councilmembers about where the city could draw operational data. Councilmembers asked whether Hyattsville and Montgomery County pilot programs might provide usable evidence about on-duty battery life, accessory loads and charging cadence. The chief said staff had contacted Hyattsville and Montgomery County and expected to receive pilot data for the council’s fleet-replacement committee to review.
Resident commenters had urged the council to pilot electric vehicles and use the city’s recently approved chargers. Emmanuel Wagner told the council it was a “missed opportunity” not to include EVs in the current purchase and urged a small pilot so the city could gather operational experience. Kathleen Gundry, a Ward 2 resident and Green Team member, asked the ordinance be amended "to authorize purchase of at least 1 fully electric vehicle," citing the city’s 2035 climate goal.
Council members balanced the climate goals against public-safety and operational concerns. Council member Hansack urged pragmatism and at least one year of additional information on the Blazer before deploying pursuit-rated EVs for patrol work. Council member Schlegel proposed tabling the ordinance until more data arrived; that motion failed on a roll-call vote.
On a single-reading ordinance authorizing the purchase of three hybrid patrol SUVs, the clerk called the roll; the ordinance passed with a majority in favor and one recorded no vote. Before and after the vote, councilmembers asked staff to fold EV cost and infrastructure planning into FY27 budget priorities so future vehicle procurements can better align with the city’s electrification aims.
The council recorded multiple follow-up requests to staff: gather comparative battery- and in-service performance data from nearby jurisdictions piloting pursuit-rated EVs; provide lifecycle maintenance- and operating-cost comparisons between hybrids and EVs; and develop options for residential take-home charging policy (stipend vs. installed chargers) as part of FY27 budget work.
The council’s action moves forward the immediate fleet need while highlighting an explicit plan to revisit electrification once more operational data and charging capacity are available.
