In 1899, Ohio cops rolled out the world’s first electric police squad car
Published on Sep 14, 2025 at 7:47 PM (UTC+4)
by Claire Reid
Last updated on Sep 12, 2025 at 4:11 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Emma Matthews
The first police squad car in America was introduced way back in 1899 in Ohio, and it was an electric vehicle.
Although we may think of EVs as a modern invention, thanks to the popularity of brands like Tesla and BYD, electric cars have been around for decades.
In fact, it was an EV that was introduced as the first police squad car in the US back in the late 1890s.
But it’s safe to say it didn’t exactly match up to today’s all-electric offerings.
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The EV police squad car was introduced in Akron, Ohio
In recent years, we’ve seen more police forces introduce EVs into their fleets in a bid to be greener.
Palo Alto Police Department has added a Rivian R1S cruiser, while over in Michigan, a 2025 Ford Mustang Mach-E has been introduced as a patrol car.
As well as being better for the environment, and a good talking point, cops bringing EVs into their fleets is actually going full circle – as the first police squad car ever was an electric vehicle.
Back in 1899, officials in the city of Akron, Ohio, spent $2,400 for a vehicle created by the Collins Buggy Company.
It was powered by two battery motors that could produce 4hp each, giving the police squad car a top speed of 18mph.
Although not the fastest vehicle out there, the car did offer plenty of room – so much so, it could fit the whole squad in.
The old-school EV also came with a stretcher and had been fitted with a cage to hold suspects.
This onboard cage was put to good use early on, after cops picked up a drunken troublemaker on one of the car’s first outings.
What became of Ohio’s police electric vehicle?
Just a year after it was introduced, the electric police squad car ended up being chucked into the Ohio Canal by a gang of rioters.
However, it wasn’t the end for the EV.
The following day, it was retrieved from the water, cleaned up, repaired, and put back on the road, which is a solid testament to the work from Collins Buggy Company.
The car remained in service until 1905 when it was sold for scrap – making $25.
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Claire Reid is a journalist who hails from the UK but is now living in New Zealand. She began her career after graduating with a degree in Journalism from Liverpool John Moore’s University and has more than a decade of experience, writing for both local newspapers and national news sites. Claire covers a wide variety of topics, with a special focus on cars, technology, planes, cryptocurrency, and luxury.
