THE VinFast VF 3 was never designed to be a police vehicle.
When VinFast introduced its tiny electric SUV, the idea was simple: build an affordable city car for school runs, grocery trips, and daily commutes. Instead, the little EV is starting to find a second career.
Over the past few weeks, police agencies in the Philippines and Indonesia have begun deploying the VF 3 for public service duties, demonstrating how a vehicle originally intended for private ownership can adapt to entirely different roles.
In the Philippines, Noveleta in Cavite recently put several VF 3 units into service as police patrol vehicles as part of its broader sustainability program.
The initiative makes Noveleta the first municipality in Region 4A (Calabarzon) to formally integrate electric mobility into its local government transportation plans.
The initial deployment consists of VF 3 units supplied through VinFast Marikina and Xentro, with additional vehicles expected to join the fleet later on.
Beyond reducing fuel expenses, local officials see EVs as a way to lower maintenance costs and modernize government operations.
Across the region, Indonesia has taken the concept a step further.
The Indonesian National Traffic Police Corps recently introduced its Precision Drone Patrol ETLE program, a technology-driven traffic enforcement initiative that uses drones to monitor congestion and identify violations.
To support the program, officers modified a VF 3 to serve as the mobile drone deployment vehicle.
Its rear cargo area was redesigned to accommodate drone equipment, allowing personnel to transport and deploy aerial monitoring systems from various locations.
Its small footprint turned out to be one of its biggest advantages. Officers can maneuver through crowded urban areas and operate in places where larger patrol vehicles would struggle.
The two deployments may serve different purposes, but they arrive at the same conclusion: the VF 3 is proving to be far more versatile than its dimensions suggest.
That trend is not unique to Southeast Asia. Around the world, government agencies are increasingly exploring EVs as part of efforts to reduce emissions and operating expenses. Compared with conventional fuel-powered vehicles, EVs generally require less maintenance, offer lower energy costs, and come equipped with digital technologies that can be adapted to specialized tasks.
The VF 3's specifications make it particularly suitable for these applications. At just 3,190-mm long, 1,679-mm wide, and 1,652-mm high, it is significantly smaller than most passenger vehicles currently on Philippine roads. Yet despite its compact dimensions, it rides on 16-inch wheels and offers 175 mm of ground clearance, giving it enough capability to tackle less-than-perfect road conditions.
The vehicle is also capable of traveling up to 215 kilometers on a full charge. DC (direct current) fast charging can replenish the battery from 10 to 70 percent in approximately 36 minutes.
For municipal fleets and patrol operations that rarely travel long distances in a single day, those numbers may be more than sufficient.