Californian city introduces first police fleet with all-electric vehicles

A Southern California city has become the first in the country to replace its patrol cars with electric vehicles, officials said Monday, unveiling a fleet of 20 new Teslas.

South Pasadena, on the outskirts of Los Angeles, will replace its gas-guzzling patrol cars with Teslas in an effort to protect public health and combat climate change by reducing emissions. The Teslas will use new electric vehicle chargers installed at City Hall, officials said.

When police officers stop traffic or respond to emergency calls, police vehicles typically sit idle longer than other vehicles, significantly increasing pollutant emissions, says Michael Cacciotti, city councilman and regional air quality officer.

“This is important, especially in the greater Los Angeles area, where the air is still the unhealthiest in the country,” Cacciotti said. “We hope other police departments in the region and state will make this change as well.”

While other cities have electric vehicles in their fleets, this is the first city to go completely electric, officials said. Police in nearby Anaheim added six Teslas to their patrol fleet as part of a pilot program earlier this year.

South Pasadena Police Sergeant Tony Abdalla said in an email that they are keeping an eye on about 35 other agencies across the U.S. that are willing to share their experiences integrating one or more Teslas into their respective fleets.

The police department will have ten Tesla Model Y patrol cars and ten Tesla Model 3s for detective and administrative duties, both customized for police use. The net cost to the city is $1.85 million, with more than half of the total cost being covered by utility Southern California Edison, the Clean Power Alliance and the Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction Review Committee.

“We will have a 21st century police force that is safe, clean and saves taxpayers’ money,” South Pasadena Mayor Evelyn Zneimer said in a press release.

The switch to electric power is expected to save South Pasadena about $4,000 per vehicle annually in energy costs and save on maintenance such as brakes, oil changes and air filters, the release said. The total cost of ownership per mile will be at least half that of gasoline-powered vehicles, according to Police Chief Brian Solinsky.

Los Angeles-Long Beach County ranks first in ozone pollution (also called smog) and sixth in particle pollution, according to the American Lung Association. Carbon dioxide emissions also contribute to climate change, which is partly blamed for the region’s increasingly deadly wildfires.

California’s Advanced Clean Fleets regulation requires public institutions to make 50% of the vehicles they purchase emission-free starting this year and 100% by 2027. Police cars and other emergency vehicles are exempt from this.