Payload of Toyota RAV4 police automobiles a danger, says union

Earlier this week it emerged that the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid AWD patrol automobiles employed by the Queensland Police Service (QPS) may overheat throughout excessive drivingand now new issues have been raised concerning the car’s restricted weight-carrying capability.

An inner QPS car weight guideline docdetailed by 7News Brisbane, reveals {that a} RAV4 Hybrid loaded with two officers, their gear, provides, and different obligatory gear could have inadequate payload capability remaining to securely transport the rest, equivalent to criminals.

This, mixed with issues over the RAV4’s battery overheating concern, which may result in a major discount in energy after overly aggressive driving, has led union representatives to query the car’s suitability for police duties, even when it’s meant for normal policing and never pursuits.

Talking with 7NewsAustralian Manufacturing Employees’ Union organiser Dan Lacey claimed “there are points with the car that haven’t been addressed”.

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Toyota yesterday confirmed to CarExpert that the activation of ‘limp mode’ is inbuilt failsafe mechanism to guard the car’s hybrid powertrain.

“Toyota Australia technical groups have inspected the automobiles in query and decided they’re functioning as designed,” it stated. “In excessive eventualities equivalent to police driver coaching, the car could intervene to guard the hybrid system.”

Within the weight guideline doc leaked yesterday, the QPS states {that a} RAV4 fitted with a driver safety display behind the entrance seats mustn’t exceed a complete weight of 2230kg.

With out officers or gear, a RAV4 fitted with the display is estimated to weigh 1889kg. This leaves 341kg of leeway for 2 vested law enforcement officials, plus their equipment baggage and weapons, sometimes estimated to weigh round 240kg – leaving simply 101kg left over for detainees.

It turns into extra difficult if the RAV4 is carrying extra gear like cease sticks (tyre deflators), a rifle equipment, a hearth extinguisher, and water, estimated to weigh a complete of roughly 26kg, during which case there would solely be 75kg of payload remaining earlier than hitting the 2230kg ceiling.

Given the common Australian male is estimated to weigh round 85kg and the common feminine round 70kg, it’s affordable to anticipate that 75kg will simply be exceeded when carrying detainees. The QPS maintains that the RAV4 can nonetheless safely transport individuals with out exceeding the load restrict, however Mr Lacey stays skeptical.

“(If exceeded), that raises, clearly, a danger to the officers driving them. It dangers elevated price and upkeep,” he instructed 7News.

7News additionally stories mechanics tasked with sustaining and putting in gear within the RAV4 police automobiles voiced their issues over the car’s weight earlier this 12 months, however to no avail. It’s understood the QPS will checklist payload figures in every of the RAV4s as a reminder to officers.