Three new electric motorcycles will be delivered soon to the Ceres Police Department thanks to a grant provided by the agency designed to keep Valley air at its cleanest.

Not only will the police motorcycles have zero emissions, they will be quiet as officers approach certain violators and subjects.

The San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District has awarded a $60,000 grant to fully purchase three Zero motorcycles at $20,822 a copy.

"We're kind of entering a new era in policing with that," said traffic Sgt. Chris Perry.

"We may be able to integrate further patrol officers on these things eventually as well. They provide a certain unique area of policing that we'll be able to enter with the electric motorcycles. For those who don't know, these things may be ridden indoors, right through this building, because there are no emissions. It's pretty incredible."

The Zero, according to the Santa Cruz manufacturer, has a top speed of 95 mph and can travel a maximum of 164 miles on a charge. It has regenerative braking and has options for on or off-road use. With no gears, clutch or noise, officers can focus on patrolling and can perform highly technical maneuvers during intense situations where performance and agility are essential. Officers can stealthily take off from a hideout and pursue subjects without engine noise.

City police use Zeros in Monterey, San Mateo and Scotts Valley as well as on the campus of San Jose State University. Visalia, Farmersville and McFarland were the first Valley cities to buy and employ Zeros.

"Police Departments are continuing to select Zero Motorcycles to be added to their fleets because the motorcycles have been developed from the ground up to meet the requirements of law enforcement agencies around the world," said John Lloyd, a Zero vice president, in a statement.

Lloyd said the motorcycles are catching on internationally as well.

"We've deployed a hundred units into the Bogota, Columbia Police Department and another 59 units in Hong Kong," he said.