They have a retro look which gives them an old appearance that should not be trusted. Just delivered, the new mopeds of the Finistère gendarmerie are indeed new machines. Although they do not yet have the official navy blue color, electric two-wheelers have already stood out. Not for their noise but for their road trip-style design in the desert.
Designed by a company from the department, these all-terrain mopeds will be tested for the first time in France by the soldiers of the Saint-Pol-de-Léon brigade. “It is a machine which complements our patrolling possibilities and which goes in the direction of greening our vehicle fleet”, explains Colonel Charlotte Tournant.
Intervene faster on all terrains
Appointed two years ago at the head of the Finistère gendarmes, the officer has already experienced floods, storms like Ciaran or even the violent fires which struck the Monts d’Arrée. When she received the proposal from the Toad company to try new all-terrain vehicles, she didn’t hesitate. “At the gendarmerie, we first need to be mobile. In Finistère, we cover 97% of the territory. The car is very practical for that, it allows us to travel miles. But it doesn’t go everywhere. And above all, it cuts us off a little from contact with the population. » When they can, its teams travel by bike, in order to be as close as possible to residents. “But our projection capacity is not very fast,” admits the colonel.
In a few weeks, four mopeds will join the Saint-Pol-de-Léon brigade and the brand new mobile brigade of Monts d’Arrée. In these very rural areas, these mopeds capable of traveling up to 45 km/h will prove very useful for exploring the paths. Because in Finistère, the gendarmes do not have any all-terrain vehicles. During the fires in the summer of 2022, its teams had to beg for help from their general management to intervene in the disaster areas. Two-wheelers should undoubtedly be very useful for securing festival sites such as Vieilles Charrues or Le Bout du monde.
Beyond just the off-road aspect, electric two-wheelers could also prove to be valuable assets for their discretion. “They are particularly quiet. This could really help us with certain interventions,” assures Colonel Charlotte Tournant. The only department to test these devices, Finistère is giving itself until the summer to assess their relevance. A test which is closely monitored by the parent company.