Police officers in Coral Gables, Florida may soon purchase a Tesla, with Mayor Vince Lago encouraging the department to begin plans to go electric, according to a report from the Miami Herald.
Lago cited the vehicle’s lowered emissions and reduced costs on maintenance and fuel as reasons for the police department to get a Tesla, in addition to the city’s goals for sustainability.
The Tesla would be purchased for roughly $64,000, which city spokeswoman Martha Pantin noted was nearly twice as much as a standard police cruiser.
The Tesla would be introduced through a pilot program, according to Police Chief Ed Hudak at a commission meeting on Tuesday.
Hudak also noted the department would consider other options, including an electric Chevy. Lago also emphasized he would be open to other electric options.
“Listen, I don’t own a Tesla, and I don’t own Tesla stock,” Lago said. “But at the end of the day, I just want something that’s made in America. If there is a better electric car that’s made in America, find it for me.”
Coral Gables has one of Florida’s largest electric vehicle (EV) fleet, with the municipality currently owning 70 electric cars with 35 Nissan Leaf units and 23 Chevy Bolts.
The news comes as many police departments in the U.S. have sought long-term savings on fuel and maintenance costs through the purchase of Tesla or other EVs.
Florida City Adds 13 Tesla Model Y Vehicles to Police Fleet https://t.co/msTBqskN6i
— TeslaNorth.com (@RealTeslaNorth) July 16, 2022
“If there is a better electric car that’s made in America, find it for me.”
Kinda says it all really! I’m guessing that $64,000 price tag is before Tesla’s recent cuts and the IRA incentives? Should be even less value than that, especially if you are lining it up against Leafs and Chevies ha!
Government doesn’t get IRA, and you have to add in third party police modifications. But as it’s known it’s saving a lot of money over their ICE options. And since they already have a fleet they have chargers available.
Those 3rd party mods would be for any vehicle correct? If so why add it in at the front like that as it makes it sound like it is just Tesla’s higher prices? I agree about the savings. I think we are still just at the forefront of fleets seeing these savings in BOLD. Once they do, they won’t be ordering one or 2 they will be wanting to replace all their ICEs as fast as their budgets will allow. The more miles you put on these vehicles the more economical sense they make.
I believe some OEMs include it in their fleet options, Tesla only does fleet for Semi so that may be why it’s an additional line item. It’s just the purchasing department trying to make it look worse I’m sure.
Edit: idling is also a major contributor to emissions and fuel use, EVs are great at cutting costs there too.
I read somewhere sometime last year that the biggest cause of ICE car fires which are 10x as likely as EV fires, happened to police cruisers idling on the side of highways. The heat from their catalytic converters would ignite the grass underneath the vehicles and start a fire. Seems a little over the top but nonetheless worth thinking about as EVs don’t need to idle at all, even when needing the heater, A/C or communications equipment running.