The high-roof, all-electric transport van is a rugged, heavy-duty workhorse that will provide years of emissions-free service for Cobb County. To stay cost-effective, the transport utilizes commonly available bolt-in upfit components to transform the cargo bay into a secure, safe, fully-mobile containment area for several inmates. With a top speed of 63 mph, 575 ft-lbs. of instant torque and an estimated range of 170 miles on a full charge, Cobb County’s EV inmate transport is a no-compromise solution that just makes sense.

The new van replaces an older, diesel-powered model and will allow Cobb County to securely move prisoners with zero emissions, healthier interior air quality for both personnel and inmates, and much less noise. Between more stable fuel costs and reduced maintenance due to the lack of belts, hoses and crankcase oil that need to be regularly inspected and changed, officials expect the transition to EV transport will save Cobb County around $40,000 in the first three years of operation.

It’s a smart move for taxpayers, for Cobb County and for other agencies who’d be interested in following their lead. With heavy-duty commercial electric vehicles becoming more affordable and available, municipalities and city governments are fast running out of excuses for not transitioning their fleets, including inmate transport.

Sweetening the pot even further is the fact that recent federal legislation like the Inflation Reduction Act contains tens of billions in grants for municipalities, non-profits, tribal nations, and county governments that are specifically designed to help make EV fleet transitions and charging infrastructure much cheaper or even free. Most states and even some local electric utilities also offer grant funding for EV exploration, transition, infrastructure, and procurement.

To help municipal governments access that growing pot of federal EV transition dollars more easily, EV manufacturers have stepped up to provide free grant-writing and EV master planning services for governments, nonprofits, and school districts.

Even beyond the affordability of a transition, several other factors make inmate transport vehicles desirable targets for a switch to EV.

Detention Centers, Sheriff’s offices, police stations, and emergency shelters need reliable electricity. Suppose the power goes out in your community due to a violent storm, record flood or grid overload. In that case, an EV inmate transport can ride to the rescue and keep emergency power flowing with a simple connection.

Even without that kind of crisis, there are myriad ways law enforcement agencies can utilize that “battery backup‚ capacity of EV transports. Criminals don’t work 9 to 5, so agencies of all sizes often need to provide electrical power or high-intensity lighting during nighttime investigations, sometimes far from any available power source. With an EV inmate transport van or EV mobile command center in your fleet, bringing hours of reliable electrical power to any scene is as simple as pulling up and plugging in.

EV Inmate Transport Improves Local Air Quality

Another nod for transitioning to EV inmate transport is the potential to help lower air pollution in our towns and cities. Due to the downtown or inner-city location of many jails, courthouses and law enforcement facilities, thousands of inmate transport vans nationwide see daily use in stop-and-go traffic.

In addition to dramatically spiking fuel use, stop-and-go city driving can greatly increase the carbon emissions produced by gasoline and diesel engines. In cold climates, diesel-powered transports may also be left idling for extended periods to reduce start-up issues, further increasing harmful emissions.

According to the EPA, diesel emissions have serious impacts on air quality and health, upping the incidence of asthma and