ASU Police Department receives funding for zero-emission motorcycles

PHOENIX — Members of Arizona State University Police Department will soon have access to two additional zero-emission electric motorcycles, according to the university.

The department announced on Friday that it received $46,871.08 from the Arizona Governor’s Office of Highway Safety. The plan is to use that money to purchase two Zero Motorcycles DSR electric models.

The grant money is the second that the police department has received to purchase the electric motorcycles, as it bought one Zero Motorcycles DSR model in 2019.

The Governor’s Office of Highway Safety has given out grants for similar electric motorcycles to police departments in Goodyear, as well as at NAU and Pima Community College.

ASU Police Commander John Thompson believes the purchase allows the university’s police department to conduct operations around the Tempe campus in a more sustainable fashion.

“The Zeros are an ideal mode of transportation for our officers to navigate our busy campuses and large crowds during events,” Thompson said in the release. “The electric engines also allow us to move through campus without producing fuel emissions or engine noise.”

Zero DSR electric motorcycles have a maximum speed of 102 mph and range of 176 miles, according to Zero Motorcycles’ website.

The company’s website touts the motorcycles as being ideal for law enforcement agencies given the acceleration and lack of shifting needed with the electric models.

Thompson said that the department believes the new motorcycles fit into ASU’s mission when it comes to sustainability and innovation

“We are happy to see our use of electric motorcycles growing,” Thompson said. “We are part of the most innovative school in the country, and we are proud to do our part to innovate in our field.”

Zero Motorcycles is an all-electric motorcycle manufacturer that was founded by former NASA engineer Neal Saiki in 2006, according to the company’s website.

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