Battery electric vehicles as a strategy for local governments in progressing toward SDG 11 and SDG 13

Local governments are strengthening their strategies toward a sustainable future, with climate change being one of their most significant challenges. This article presents a case study demonstrating the decarbonization of a police fleet by adopting electric vehicles in a capital city in northwestern Mexico, to make the city more sustainable. The case study has implications for the city's progress toward achieving SDGs 11 and 13 in particular, this initiative aligns with targets 11.b and 13.2. This case study employed a qualitative approach, incorporating secondary data analysis from operational reports from the Preventive Police and Municipal Transit Department, as well as the Municipal Energy and Climate Change Agency, and semi-structured interviews with selected members of the municipal police squad. The data presented considers critical factors such as renewable energy generation, charging infrastructure, financing schemes, environmental impacts, and the police force<acute accent>s perception of using electric patrols. The findings suggest that using electric vehicles for patrol service is effective. Furthermore, citizens' perceptions of city safety have improved, and some crime indicators have decreased, although correlation studies are still pending. This case study could inspire other local governments in Mexico and worldwide to adopt similar initiatives tailored to their needs and particularities. Although it demonstrates that adopting electric vehicles for public services can be an effective strategy for progressing toward SDG 11 and SDG 13, ongoing geopolitical changes could alter the future of the electric vehicle ecosystem at a global level.