The local government of Valenzuela City inaugurated a new fleet of electric vehicles Friday as part of its ongoing effort to modernize the local police force.

In partnership with BYD and ACMobility, the official distributor of BYD cars in the Philippines, the city purchased 41 units of the BYD Dolphin electric car to enhance police response capabilities.

The local government allocated P75.7 million for the vehicles. Each BYD Dolphin has a 44.9 kWh battery capacity that can charge from 10 percent to 80 percent in 30 minutes and has a total range of 405 kilometers.

Of the new vehicles, 35 will be distributed to the Valenzuela City Police Station, while the remaining six will be assigned to various other local government offices within the city.

To support the new electric vehicle fleet, charging stations have been installed at the city’s ALERT Center and will also be located at different 3S Centers across Valenzuela City.

“It’s a big savings; almost P14 to P15 million a year is spent on gasoline and maintenance, so just that alone is a significant saving,” the local government in a statement. “Also, for the environment, it’s a small way of helping reduce carbon monoxide, especially since Valenzuela is an industrial city.”

Meantime, Valenzuela Police chief Nixon Cayaban expressed his gratitude for the new vehicles, noting they will further expedite police response times in emergencies.

Bob Palanca, managing director of BYD Cars Philippines, expressed hope that other local government units will show increased interest in purchasing electric vehicles.

In addition to the police force, the local government has also acquired new equipment for other first-line agencies, including a new detainee van for the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology and 33 new firetrucks for the Bureau of Fire Protection.