The Central Washington University Police Department has announced it will soon be adding a Tesla Model Y to its patrol fleet.
According to NBC Right Now, the Model Y will be replacing a Ford Explorer and patrols will start “within the month”.
The shift to an electric Model Y is for the environment, plus also benefits the university, the state and the police department’s maintenance budget. CWU Police says they are the first school in Washington state to “invest in energy-efficient” cars.
Police Chief Jason Berthon-Koch said the Tesla Model Y cost roughly $7,000 more than a standard patrol vehicle, but gas and maintenance savings will bring an $18,000 return on investment.
“It cost a little more up front, but over time, we will save about $18,000,” said Berthon-Koch, adding, “When you consider the environmental benefits, we know this car is going to be a great investment for CWU.”
We’ve seen numerous police departments shift to electric vehicles including Teslas, as the focus has been on the environment along with fuel savings and lower maintenance as the major benefits.
CWU Sustainability Coordinator Kathleen Klaniecki said the university now has nine electric and 12 hybrid vehicles, improving the fleet’s average miles per gallon.
“CWU is committed to driving down our greenhouse gas emissions, and adding more electric cars to our fleet is only going to help us reach our goals,” said Klaniecki in a statement. CWU will be slowly reducing its reliance on gas vehicles on campus, independent of Governor Jay Inslee’s recent executive order, that will push for 5,000 of the state’s vehicles to shift to fully-electric by 2040.
