The dodecahedron on wheels, or the Armored Spherical Cabin Electric Patrol Vehicle, if we’re going by its official title, was shown last month at a security expedition last month in Beijing. According to Car News China, It was developed with anti-riot work in mind, with the unique two-seat cabin giving the occupying officers a 360-degree view of the area.
As goofy as it looks, the A.S.C.E.P.V. is armored enough to be resistant to most small arms fire, and can be quipped with anti-riot smoke grenade launchers. No power output numbers were shared, but the electric motor has an approximate 74 mile range, with a top speed shy of 50 mph. Incidentally, lets add “the middle of a riot” to our list of worst places to run out of battery.
Unladen, the patrol vehicle weighs around 2,645 pounds but can bear 600 lbs more, presumably to accommodate two passengers and a compartment of riot equipment. The car has a 3.5-meter (11.4 feet) turning radius and, if things get too out of hand, the police inside have port holes built into the sides out of which they can fire handguns.
Its anyone’s guess if Chinese police departments will be rolling out in the A.S.C.E.P.V. any time soon, (or at all), but they have reportedly shown interest. If they see a capable tool in protecting themselves while non-fatally quelling civil unrest, then we may see the unique-looking EV proliferate throughout trouble spots across the globe.
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