Security in a Limousine
The Personal Security Vehicle (PSV), a new concept in automotive security, has been introduced by Hess & Eisenhardt, the world's largest manufacturer of armored vehicles.
The Personal Security Vehicle (PSV), a new concept in automotive security, has been introduced by Hess & Eisenhardt, the world's largest manufacturer of armored vehicles. Hess & Eisenhardt, an O'Gara company, has developed a package of security features which can be installed on a sedan, or an O'Gara limousine, for a fraction of the cost of conventional armored cars.
The PSV is not an armored car, stresses Jim Salscheider, O'Gara's director of marketing and strategic planning but rather a product designed for those who want protection from thefts, vandalism, accidents, and similar risks. The innovative vehicle was designed in response to a growing worldwide security concern spurring an estimated 25 percent annual growth in security-related products, according to USA Today.
The key to the PSV is OmniGard, an exclusive anti-penetration glass developed for Hess & Eisenhardt by Sierracin/TransTech, a leader in transparent barrier technology. Sieerracin also markets products such as Boeing 747 windshields, F-16 fighter plane canopies, glass for automated teller machines, and materials for other specialized applications. The OmniGard process involves bonding a thin layer of durable polycarbonate to a vehicle's original glass with an interlayer of adhesive. The result is a clear, light-weight glass panel which can withstand most attempts at entry and also provides low-level ballistic resistance to common handguns and shotguns.
The glass can be installed in standard automobile window wells. The glass in conventional armored vehicles typically adds $20,000 to the cost of a car, is more than an inch thick, and can weight more than 600 pounds, It took Sierracin a year and a half to develop OmniGard and pass tests required by the department of Transportation tests for optical quality.
The standard PSV package also includes a PosiLok door access system to that doors can only be opened by the driver, or passengers instructed by the driver. A remote controlled security system emits an alarm, disables the starter, and locks all doors if the PSV is tampered with. An additional feature is a panic button which can be used as far as 40 feet from the car to activate air horns in the event of an emergency.
The PSV package also includes a dual battery system, an emergency release handle inside the trunk to ensure that no one will never be trapped inside, a locking gas cap and fuel line protector, and an emergency kit. The entire package adds only 87 pounds to a vehicle, most of which is the additional battery. The cost for the package is $12,000 for a sedan, and $13,000 when installed on a limousine.
Several additional features are offered in the PSV Plus package. These include an outside/inside intercom enabling communication with strangers outside the vehicle without lowering the windows, an auxiliary radiator cooling fan, a fire-proof lining around the fuel tank, an automatic fire suppressant which senses and extinguishes any open flame in the engine compartment, and a tailpipe protection device which prevents attempted disabling.
Who will buy the PSV? We know that there is a need for a security automobile which does not look and act like a conventional armored car," said Salscheider.
"First we looked at the security products market," Salscheider continues, "and found that it's growing as fast as any other segment of the American economy. We got that information from USA Today. Then we did our own market research by contacting the security directors of Fortune 500 and Fortune 1000 companies and asking about corporate security measures. Every major company has security concerns, big security departments, and fairly elaborate precautions such as kidnapping insurance for their executives and directors, but nobody wants to talk about it.
"Most of these people don't want a $100.000 armored car that looks and acts like one. But we feel there is a market for a $12,000 product that doesn't look like an armored vehicle."
PSV packages will be installed on sedans at Hess & Eisenhardt's Cincinnati facility, and O'Gara limousines will be fitted with the equipment at the company's plants in Bound Brook, NJ, and Simi Valley CA. "The package is ideally suited for luxury cars such as Cadillacs, Rolls Royces, and Mercedes-Benz," says Salscheider, "but we also expect to do some less ostentatious cars like Chevy Caprices and Olds Cutlasses. Customers will probably order a car from their dealer and have it drop-shipped from Detroit to Cincinnati, the package will be installed, and then it will be delivered to the dealer. When a customer orders a PSV sedan from their dealer, the production time in Detroit is about six to 10 weeks and, by the time the car arrives in Cincinnati, the glass will have been delivered from Sierracin. Installation of the PSV package then takes about two weeks."
More Operations

Turn Fleet Data Into Smarter Decisions
Fleet leaders have access to more operational data than ever, but disconnected systems and unclear metrics often slow decision-making instead of improving it. This article outlines five practical steps fleets can take to transform fragmented data into actionable insights that improve planning, safety, utilization, and long-term performance.
Read More →
Hybrids: Electrification Without the Challenges
For fleet managers, fuel is one of the biggest line items in the budget — and it's one hybrids can shrink without changing how your people work. Download the eBook to see the numbers, understand the technology, and get a step-by-step guide to making the switch.
Read More →
How NOV Uses Telematics to Improve Fleet Safety Across 160 Locations
James Victory of NOV discusses how the company manages fleet safety, maintenance, and telematics across more than 150 locations supporting oilfield operations throughout the U.S.
Read More →
Fleet Meets: Steven Santostasi
This edition of the Fleet Meets series features Steven Santostasi, the current TSP channel manager for Ford Pro.
Read More →
Why Fleet Managers Are Replacing Departmental Vehicles with Shared Motor Pools
Departmentally assigned vehicles often create hidden costs through underutilization, poor visibility, and increased administrative burden. This white paper explores how shared motor pool strategies help fleets reduce costs, improve accountability, and optimize vehicle utilization.
Read More →Soap Box Derby Challenge: Assembling the Crew
Meet Gabriel, Matthew, and Angel — the team helping bring this soap box derby build to life.
Read More →
BBL Fleet Acquires Velcor Leasing Corporation
BBL Fleet expanded its footprint in the fleet management industry with the acquisition of Velcor Leasing Corporation of Madison through a stock purchase agreement finalized Feb. 27, 2026.
Read More →
Lytx Introduces New AI Fleet Technologies at Protect 2026
The company introduced new AI-driven fleet safety and operations technologies during its annual user conference.
Read More →
Fleet Costs Are Rising: Here’s How Leaders Are Responding
Fleet leaders are under pressure to reduce costs, adapt to economic uncertainty, and make smarter decisions. See how peers across North America are responding with real data, proven strategies, and forward-looking insights. Download the 2026 Market Pulse Report to benchmark your strategy and uncover where you can gain an edge.
Read More →From Waffle House to AI: Fleet Trends You Need to Know
In this AF news recap, host Faith Howell covers how Waffle House stepped up during disaster response and new AI tech on the market.
Read More →