Four electric SUVs are now operating as Traffic Officer vehicles on England’s motorways and major A-roads in a National Highways trial. The vehicles must meet the demands of frontline incident response while accommodating specialist equipment.
Vehicles converted for Traffic Officer roles
National Highways has taken delivery of four Hyundai IONIQ 9 electric SUVs supplied by Hyundai Motor UK. These are the largest vehicles so far trialled in the Traffic Officer fleet. They have been converted by Richell Vehicle Conversions to meet National Highways’ traffic management specifications.
The conversions include National Highways livery, high-visibility markings, emergency lighting, and all standard onboard equipment required by Traffic Officers. This covers a 240Ah lithium auxiliary battery for emergency warning systems, bullhorn, additional warning lights, and a flip-up matrix board for live incident messaging.
A load-carrying system supports radio communications, telematics, and CCTV gear used during incident management.
Assessing operational and charging performance
The IONIQ 9 features a 110.3kWh battery and an 800V electrical system, allowing charging at up to 233kW. Its standard range reaches up to 385 miles under WLTP testing conditions in passenger form. This trial tests how these figures hold up when carrying operational equipment and performing active Traffic Officer duties.
Evaluation focuses on vehicle suitability, integration of specialist kit, and whether charging infrastructure at Traffic Officer locations meets operational demands.
Meeting the demands of high-pressure incident response
Traffic Officers are among the first to attend motorway incidents. Their work involves creating safe working areas, managing traffic flows, clearing hazards, and supporting emergency services. Their vehicles must balance operational equipment needs with endurance and reliability.
This trial aims to ensure electric vehicles can fulfill these functions without compromise.
Supporting National Highways' electric fleet ambitions
National Highways has set a goal for its entire Traffic Officer fleet to be fully electric by 2030. Previous trials included smaller electric models but the availability of suitable, larger vehicles has influenced the transition pace.
This evaluation will provide practical evidence of whether large electric SUVs meet operational expectations on England’s strategic road network.
Infrastructure as well as vehicles
The trial also highlights the importance of charging infrastructure at Traffic Officer outstations. The shift to electric involves upgrading facilities alongside vehicle replacement to maintain continuous frontline operations.
Next steps
The trial is ongoing. National Highways will assess vehicle performance before deciding on further purchases, potentially adding more electric SUVs to the fleet during 2026.
For contractors, authorities and fleet managers, the key takeaway is the practical evaluation of electric vehicles in high-demand settings rather than a completed fleet change.
These four converted Hyundai IONIQ 9s have become a focal point for determining how the Traffic Officer fleet evolves in the nearterm, balancing environmental targets with operational safety and efficiency on UK motorways and major A-roads.
