Tampa police will use new electric car

These aren’t good times for Detroit automakers. But a Tampa man who used to be an engineer for General Motors believes he has a better idea. He’s producing a new kind of “car” and his first customer is the Tampa Police Department. For years, former Detroit auto engineer Dennis Abbey, owner of Tampa’s Precision Cobras, has built 440 horsepower custom monsters. But his new creation is a fast, tight-handling, electric vehicle.. He says these days, the world of wheels is wide open for small companies like his. “I guess you’d say small guys have to do this stuff. The big three had their chance and you see where they ended up,” said Dennis Abbey, precision cobras. Abbey ended up with what he calls the “Lectric Limousine.” With a legal top speed of 25 miles per hour, Abbey says it has enough power to go 55. It’s powered by ten batteries. “We’re looking at 50 to 55 miles per charge on the batteries — zero fuel cost. They cost less than a regular automobile. But yet, we build them like an automobile, they are not an overgrown golf cart.” It has features like a fully independent

suspension, rack and pinion steering, and disc brakes. Abbey’s first sale is to the Tampa Police Department for patrolling downtown, Ybor City and special events. “It makes sense economically, it saves a lot of money, it’s green, it’s electric,” he said. “And it’s a great way for officers to be more approachable to the public. Citizens can flag them down, talk to them, ask for directions,” said Laura McElroy, with the Tampa Police Department. TPD has already moved some officers out of $32,000 gas-guzzling patrol cars, and when the ‘Lectric Limo is put together, and lights and sirens added, it will be the hotrod of the department’s alternative vehicle fleet. Abbey says police and governments are just the first target markets. He says he hopes to build 200 to 500 cars this year, right here in Tampa. He says he can build 15 to 20 cars per week, and as orders come in, he’ll hire more workers. Abbey says the cars will retail between $15,000 and $17,000. He expects to deliver the first one to Tampa Police later this week.  

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Tampa police will use new electric car

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