Sebastopol police have purchased an all-electric, off-road motorcycle to patrol its parks and trails that are otherwise difficult to access.
The motorcycle, manufactured by Zero Motorcycles of Scotts Valley, cost $6,125, which was raised by selling two old patrol cars and other surplus property, said police Chief Jeff Weaver.
"The primary use will be to check local parks," Weaver said. "We have the laguna preserve, which is north of the Highway 12 bridge, and areas off of the Sonoma County Joe Rodota Trail, and west of Analy High School is the remainder of the Rodota Trail, areas that we were not effectively patrolling."
Those are all areas that are difficult to patrol with the department's patrol cars and two Harley-Davidson motorcycles or by officers on foot, Weaver said.
"The tangent benefit is people really like it, it is electric, there are no emissions, it is quiet and it is unique," Weaver said. "It is getting a lot of favorable attention."
The motorcycles have a top speed of about 65 mph and a range of 50 miles before needing a charge, which takes four hours. The motorcycle weighs 30 to 50 pounds less than gas-engined motorcycles.
Zero has sold 1,000 electric motorcycles and is now producing a modified version as it targets sales to law enforcement, the military and security firms, said Scot Harden, vice president of marketing.
"We see a lot of opportunities in fleet application," Harden said.
The motorcycle, with police markings, siren and lights, has been used for four days, said Sgt. Mike Nielsen, who is in charge of the program.
Nielsen, who has been riding motorcycles for 19 years, said he was skeptical whether an electric motorcycle would be up to the challenges of police work.
"I took one to a two-day off-road challenge, to see if the vehicle is a gimmick or can handle police work," Nielsen said. "I drove in the sand and over berms, stream crossings and logs and through a motocross course. It worked great."
Except for the whine of the chain and noise from nobby tires, Nielsen said it is extremely quiet.
"Going down a trail, where I would not normally hear someone talking in the bush line, I can hear them," Nielsen said.
Sebastopol is the second California law enforcement agency using Zero's electric motorcycle. The Scotts Valley Police Department purchased one in January.
You can reach Staff Writer Bob Norberg at 521-5206 or bob.norberg@pressdemocrat.com.
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