Dubai Police will soon be patrolling the emirate’s streets using new two-wheeled electric vehicles.
Fifteen Zippi Patrols, a Segway-style, environmentally-friendly single-person vehicle, will be delivered to officers to use at public events, around tourist and commercial areas and historical sites.
“The electrical bike is appropriate for special security work,” said Maj Gen Mattar Khamis Al Mazeina, chief of Dubai police, after test-driving a machine.
“It can help support the work of the police in maintaining security and in providing authorities with quick transportation to provide visitors and residents high-quality services.”
The Zippi Patrol is powered by an electric engine and has a maximum speed of about 20kph. It can run for eight hours of continual use without a charge and costs Dh28,000.
Zippi, a Dubai-based company, sold 15 units to Abu Dhabi Traffic Police at the Intersec security conference earlier this month.
Jean-Paul Logiotatos, the managing director of the firm, said the Dubai force will take delivery of their machines after a trial period.
“They’ll have them for a couple of weeks to see how they work,” he said. “They are using it for patrolling urban areas, like Jumeirah Beach Residences.
“Based on that trial period they’ll decide whether they want to order some models. It all depends on if they like them. They could order 15, or they could order 50.”
Maj Gen Al Mazeina said the use of the green vehicles would also reduce noise pollution as well as giving out zero petrol fumes.
“The integration of environmentally-friendly bikes in the work of traffic police is in the hopes of increasing the use of dependable and sustainable energy and of reducing carbon emission that are harmful to the environment.
“Dubai Police is working on creating an environment that is safe, clean and attractive to live up to the reputation of the UAE in the preservation of the environment.”
dmoukhallati@thenational.ae