Hamburg, August 2026 – New hybrid patrol cars used by the Hamburg police are experiencing technical issues during patrol duty. Malfunctions in the permanently installed digital radio system are occurring in some VW Passat eHybrid models. According to reports by BILD, these issues arise when the battery is depleted or the petrol engine takes over during periods of high power demand. The engine warning light may also illuminate. Consequently, affected crews have had to abandon their vehicles and wait for replacements. The police force reportedly acquired around 30 of these Passats. Additionally, the blue “presence light”—which has remained constantly illuminated since May—is causing problems because it can appear like flashing blue emergency lights when viewed through digital rearview mirrors.
Hybrid patrol cars experience malfunctions when switching drive modes
According to the report, this issue affects specific operating conditions of the plug-in hybrid. When the traction battery is depleted, the internal combustion engine takes over propulsion. The petrol engine may also engage when higher power output is required. It is precisely in these situations that radio interference and engine warning alerts reportedly occurred. However, no technically confirmed cause for this phenomenon has been made public to date.
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Hamburg police describe the issue as affecting only a “small number of individual vehicles,” noting that only sporadic and very brief disruptions to the permanently installed two-way radio system were observed. According to the authorities, the hybrid patrol cars remain fully operational; mobile radios also ensure connectivity with the operations center and other crews. Nevertheless, the manufacturer and a specialist workshop are jointly working on a solution.
Additional police equipment places a load on the vehicle’s electrical system
Hamburg has long documented the specific challenges involved in integrating police equipment into electrified vehicles. A report by the state transport agency describes issues regarding the 12-volt power supply for electric official vehicles, as radio systems, emergency lights, and other installed components require additional energy. Consequently, technicians had to develop power supply solutions for this specialized equipment during earlier vehicle conversions.
While this context explains the technical challenges involved, it does not prove the cause of the current malfunctions in the Passat models. In particular, there is currently no public evidence linking a weak 12-volt battery to the radio failures and engine warning lights. It is a fact, however, that Hamburg has been using the VW Passat B9 eHybrid as a patrol car since 2025. According to BILD, the standard civilian version alone costs around 53,000 euros, with the police-specific equipment driving the price up further.
Digital radio is a core piece of operational equipment
For police operations, the permanently installed radio system is far more than a mere convenience feature. Hamburg uses the digital BOS radio network—a dedicated system for emergency services—across the entire city to facilitate communication between its operational units. It handles connections linking patrol cars, local police stations, and the operations center. Consequently, a malfunction remains a significant issue even if mobile devices serve as a backup. However, the authorities emphasize that radio communication remains uninterrupted despite this.
In addition to technical issues, the new “presence light” has also caused problems. Since May 19, Hamburg police vehicles have displayed a constant, dim blue light—operating at just under 30 percent of the intensity of standard emergency blue lights. It does not flash, nor does it signal an emergency run. Nevertheless, according to reports by BILD, digital camera-based rearview mirrors can make it appear as though the light is flashing. A truck driver reportedly drove into an intersection against a red light in an attempt to make way for the vehicle. For the new hybrid patrol cars, however, the radio malfunction remains the more serious technical issue; its exact cause has yet to be determined.
Author: Blackout News
Sources: Bild (22.08.26) – NDR (19.05.26) – Polizeiautos (05.03.25)