A Bay Area police department will soon add a Tesla to its fleet.
The Fremont Police Department will begin a pilot program to test a Tesla Model S 85 electric vehicle, which has been customized for the police department.
Police say the vehicle will help meet the city’s goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent. Fremont is home to the Tesla factory.
The department began studying the feasibility of deploying a zero-emission police vehicle back in 2017.
“The electric patrol vehicle pilot program is an extension of the City’s clean technology and smart city initiatives to help make Fremont a more sustainable community,” said Fremont Police Captain Sean Washington. “Given that Fremont Police vehicle fleet is responsible for a total of 980 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually, this program has the potential to eliminate 10 percent of all municipal greenhouse gas emissions.”
The team purchased a used 2014 Tesla Model S 85 this month. It cost roughly $61,000, and it will replace a 2007 Dodge Charger that was scheduled to be taken out of service because of its age.
The department has been working with vendors to install standard police equipment, including lights, a push bumper, and ballistic barriers. The total cost for modifications is about $4,500.
The department says a Ford Explorer with the police package costs approximately $40,000 with additional modification costs that are comparable to the Tesla.
The department says the Tesla, however, will save a considerable amount of money on gas over the years.
