The city manager of South Pasadena, California, issued a news release on Monday announcing the debut of the country’s first fleet of all electric police cars.
In an effort to cut costs and pollution, the city has purchased 20 Teslas, set up chargers at City Hall, and is installing solar panels and a backup battery system, according to the office of City Manager Arminé Chaparyan.
This program will put electric vehicles through their paces in a crucial public safety capacity. California has set a goal of reducing emissions of greenhouse gases by 48 percent from 1990 levels by 2030, and if this strategy is effective, it could provide another option to lessen pollution from cars, which are the state’s biggest pollutant.
The news release states that a large portion of the emissions come from police cars since their gas engines are frequently kept idling while they power various equipment such as emergency lights, radios, and more.
Ten Tesla Model Ys will be used for patrol and ten Model 3s for investigating and administrative tasks; these new vehicles will lessen emissions of N2O, CO, CO monoxide, and CO2.
According to Michael Cacciotti, a member of the South Coast Air Quality Management District and the South Pasadena City Council, “This is important, particularly in the Los Angeles area which still has the most unhealthful air in the nation” while addressing the release.
Although police cars and other emergency vehicles are exempt from California’s Advanced Clean Fleets rule, which forces public agencies to begin switching to zero-emission alternatives this year, Cacciotti expressed his hope that other California police departments will follow suit after seeing the city’s move.
There have been rumors that the police forces of Falmouth, Massachusetts, and Fremont, California, both deploy Teslas.
Not only does South Pasadena anticipate a yearly savings of $4,000 per vehicle on energy costs, but they also anticipate savings from not having to repair gas-powered engines.
A number of factors, including “range, potential inability to charge when the grid goes down, and worries that the technology is new and unproven,” have made police wary of EVs, according to the public statement.
The proposal incorporates solar panels, battery storage, and 34 electric vehicle chargers at South Pasadena City Hall in an effort to counteract these negatives.
Nearly $2 million was spent by the city on the vehicles. South Coast Air Quality Management District awarded $500,000 in subsidies, Southern California Edison contributed $650,000 in work, and Clean Power Alliance provided solar panels and batteries at no cost.
For the purpose of vehicle maintenance and expense tracking, the police department has hired the services of fleet management company Standard Fleet.