In keeping with the campus efforts to become more environmentally friendly, Cal State Northridges Department of Police Services has traded in a few of its old four-wheeled, gas-guzzling, black-and-white patrol vehicles for new battery-powered three wheelers.
CSUN Police Office Mike Reyes patrols the Oviatt Library on the T3 Motion vehicle. Photo by Dat Tuyen Nguyen
The T3 Motion is a three-wheel personal mobility electric vehicle designed with law enforcement in mind. Officers ride it standing up and can use it to gain access to locations hard to reach in a traditional patrol car and to improve visibility on campus.
It makes the officers more accessible, said Police Chief Anne Glavin. This type of vehicle has become increasingly popular.
Glavin said her department decided to purchase the vehicles last year in the wake of state budget cuts. She said some of the most expensive parts of her operation were gasoline and the maintenance of gasoline vehicles. The department cut its patrol vehicle fleet by three cars and replaced them with the T3s in fall 2009.
We saw this as a great alternative, Glavin said. We increase officer visibility, save energy, contribute to an eco-friendly environment and we save on long-term costs.
The T3 vehicles costs between $8,000 and $10,000 each and come complete with lights, sirens and a glove box for emergency equipment. CSUN purchased threetwo for police patrol and one for parking.
Police Capt. Alfredo Fernandez said the department chose the T3 over other similar vehicles because of its excellent reputation. It is used on college campuses like USC and by police agencies around the nation, including the Los Angeles Police Department and the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department.
The T3 is the latest effort by CSUNs police department to find eco-friendly ways to serve the campus. The department has a bicycle division that patrols campus housing and the campus core. The agency also has purchased the CT Series Micro electric car to replace one of its gas trucks.
Fernandez said the T3 can travel at speeds up to 20 mph. Its zero emissions make the vehicle environmentally friendly. It also is economical, with an estimated operating cost of 10 cents per day.
According to the Costa Mesa-based manufacturer, other features include a zero degree-turning radius for navigating tight spots. The driving platform puts the driver nine inches above the ground for visibility above crowds.