Maker of ‘purpose-built’ law enforcement car taps Ridge, Hamilton for advisory board
Led by former senior executives of Ford Motor Co., Carbon Motors describes itself as “a new American automaker with a focused and singular mission: to design, develop, produce, distribute and service the Carbon E7, a vehicle designed specifically for law enforcement operations.”
“With the addition of Secretary Ridge and Congressman Hamilton to our board of advisors, Carbon Motors is fortunate to be able to draw upon the experience and expertise of two of the nation’s most respected authorities on homeland security,” Carbon Motors Chairman and CEO William Santana Li said. “ … Throughout the development process, we have sought to draw upon the expertise of active and retired law enforcement officers across the nation, and their advice has been critical to ensuring that the E7 meets the uniquely challenging needs of today’s law enforcement officers.”
According to Carbon Motors, the evolution of patrol car technology has not kept pace with criminal threats and law enforcement tactics.
“At the local, state and federal level, law enforcement is up against entirely new challenges that didn’t exist 30 years ago,” Ridge said in a news release. “That’s why we need to arm the men and women who protect our communities with the most up-to-date equipment. The E7 has the potential to meet that need, which would lead to safer and more effective patrol and policing operations and safer neighborhoods across America.”
According to Carbon Motors, the E7 is being engineered to serve the unique demands of law enforcement. For example, the E7 will include:
- A fuel-efficient, clean diesel engine boasting 300 horsepower and 420 pound-feet of torque.
- An ergonomically designed cockpit with 17-inch touch-screen display.
- A vehicle life durability specification of 250,000 miles.
- 360-degree exterior surveillance audio and video capability.
- 180-degree interior rear compartment audio and video capability.
- Available automatic license plate recognition system.
- Optional integrated ballistic protection.
Li asserted that the nation’s 425,000 law enforcement patrol vehicles burn more than 1.5 billions gallons of gasoline a year and emit more than 7,000 tons of carbon dioxide. The E7 has been designed to reduce emissions by an estimated 40 percent, according to the company.
Redesigned Web site unveiled
In addition to naming Ridge and Hamilton to the Carbon Motors advisory board, Li announced the launch of Carbon Motors’ newly redesigned Web site. The new site includes more detailed specifications on the vehicle, additional photos of the E7 and enhanced descriptions of the tools and resources the car makes available to law enforcement.
The Web site also serves as the online home of the Carbon Council, a voluntary advisory team comprised of active and retired law enforcement professionals and public servants who provide feedback and suggestions on the E7’s design and features. To date, the Carbon Council has more than 1,200 members nationwide, according to the company.
“The new, enhanced Web site will provide law enforcement, policymakers and the general public with a comprehensive overview of the Carbon E7 and its capabilities,” Li said. “This vehicle is the next generation of law enforcement tools, and we believe that people are going to be impressed by what they see. The collaborative design process has translated into a vehicle that will offer unique benefits to the law enforcement officials who purchase the E7.”