National Highways trials four Hyundai Ioniq 9 EVs as traffic officer vehicles
The seven-seat electric SUVs have been converted with emergency lighting, a bullhorn and telematics for frontline incident response, with National Highways weighing further purchases later in 2026 depending on how the trial goes.
National Highways has begun trialling four all-electric Hyundai Ioniq 9 SUVs as traffic officer response vehicles on England's motorways and major A-roads, according to SMMT. The pilot will assess how the seven-seat model performs in frontline operational use, combining zero tailpipe emissions, long electric range, rapid charging and the load capacity required for emergency response duties.
The vehicles were converted by Richell Vehicle Conversions (RVC), which added high-visibility decals, emergency lighting and the on-board equipment traffic officers rely on when responding to incidents. RVC fitted a dedicated 240Ah lithium auxiliary battery, kept electrically separate from the car's own battery, to power an emergency warning suite built around a lightbar, a 100W bullhorn and amber and red warning LEDs, alongside further lighting on the wing mirrors, rear screen and tailgate, plus a flip-up standby traffic commander matrix board for incident messaging.
RVC also engineered a bespoke load-carrying system to house the radio, Inseego telematics and CCTV equipment. National Highways is assessing the vehicles for operational suitability, equipment integration, charging performance and their ability to support its work.
Hyundai says the Ioniq 9 is a seven-seat electric SUV powered by a 110.3kWh battery offering a WLTP range of up to 385 miles, with 800V architecture supporting ultra-rapid charging to keep vehicles ready for duty with minimal downtime.
Subject to the outcome of the trial, National Highways is considering further purchases during 2026. Ashley Andrew, President of Hyundai & Genesis UK, said the trial "demonstrates IONIQ 9's capability in demanding real-world roles, combining zero-emission performance, practicality and rapid charging to support National Highways' vital work."
Sources
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