Tesla Model 3/Y Cruisers To Replace California Police Fleet

​​Although many US police departments have recently begun adding electric vehicles to their fleets, one is now set to electrify its entire fleet. Police in South Pasadena, California are looking to replace their entire patrol fleet with Tesla Model 3 and Y units, marking the first PD to do so.

Above: A Tesla Model Y electric SUV cruising in the dark (Image: Casey Murphy / EVANNEX).

The South Pasadena Police Department is expecting to save $312,000 in fuel and maintenance costs over ten years by adopting the Teslas, according to a press release. The department expects to complete the transition in 2023. The project will cost almost $2 million in city funds for the leasing agreement of 10 Model Y and 10 Model 3 units, with help from a $500,000 committee fund working to decrease vehicle pollution, the LA Times reports.

The main reasons behind this transition to Tesla EVs are low maintenance costs, increased safety and reliability, impressive acceleration, and reduced emissions.

The base Rear-Wheel Drive Tesla Model 3 accelerates from 0-60 mph in just 5.8 seconds. The higher trims — Long Range and Performance — have 0-60 times of 4.2 and 3.1 seconds, respectively.

Built on the same platform, the 0-60 mph acceleration figures for the Tesla Model Y RWD, Long Range, and Performance stand at 5.0, 4.8, and 3.5 seconds, respectively.

South Pasadena PD has partnered with Unplugged Performance and transportation provider Enterprise to prepare its EV fleet using Tesla vehicles.

South Pasadena PD has partnered with Unplugged Performance and transportation provider Enterprise to outfit the EVs, as shared in a joint press release posted on Twitter last month. Unplugged Performance has a history of customizing Tesla cars for track racing, and the organization's Model S Plaid has set records at Pikes Peak, Laguna Seca, and recently at Buttonwillow.

“Twenty Tesla Model Y and Model 3 vehicles upfitted by Unplugged Performance will replace the legacy internal combustion fleet for South Pasadena Police Department in 2023. The fleet of Tesla vehicles, is a first, for any department to convert its entire fleet of vehicles to 100% electric,” wrote Unplugged Performance.

“Unplugged Performance are the global experts when it comes to customizing and upfitting Tesla vehicles. We are extremely fortunate to partner with the entire Unplugged team as they build the next generation of police vehicles for our entire fleet transition to battery electric vehicles,” said Sergeant Tony Abdalla, South Pasadena Police Department EV Project Transition Lead.

Sgt. Abdalla talked about the full EV transition in a webcast with Unplugged Performance, as can be seen below.

Above: World's First 100% EV Police Fleet Saves Taxpayers $300k (Video: Unplugged Performance / YouTube).

Police departments around the globe have been pursuing zero-emissions vehicles for the past few years now. Tesla's EVs have been the most common choice for PDs worldwide. For example, police in Basel City, Switzerland Police chose Tesla Model X chose a Tesla Model X as a patrol cruiser, while the UK police have been experimenting with Tesla Model 3 cars, supporting the country's Road to Zero 2030 policy.

In 2019, the Police Department of Bargersvile, Indiana replaced one of its Dodge Charger cruisers with a Tesla Model 3, later announcing $6,000 saved in maintenance costs by the end of the year.

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Note: An earlier version of this article was published at Tesla Oracle. Author: Iqtidar Ali

Sources: South Pasadena PD / LA Times / Twitter / Unplugged Performance (via YouTube).