The City of Venice, Florida has added a total of three Tesla Model 3 electric vehicles (EVs) to its fleet for testing, one of which is set to be used as a police vehicle, according to the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
All three entered service earlier this month, though the Police Department’s Model 3 still requires an additional light bar before being used for patrolling.
Fleet Manager Travis Hout says the move was to reduce maintenance costs and the city’s carbon footprint. According to Hout, the city landed on the Model 3 because it has a 10-year battery warranty.
“A police vehicle idles more than it drives,” Hout said. “They run radar or when they’re in a situation the car’s running all the time which means low oil pressure and the engine and components don’t last as long as a normal person’s vehicle would.”
Police Chief Charlie Thorpe pointed to the tests as needing to evaluate battery life, saying “with an officer sitting, writing a report in the heat of day in July in Florida, how is that going to affect the battery and battery drain?”
The Tesla Model 3 for the police is a 2022 Performance variant, while the other two, set for use in the utilities and building departments, are from 2021.
The Herald-Tribune reports that the 2022 Model 3 cost the city $58,561 outright, with outfitting for police use ranged from $6,000-$8,000. The 2021 Model 3 each cost $45,680, and all three were reportedly purchased from Land Rover Sarasota.
Past police trials of Tesla and other EVs have found that, while they’re more expensive outright, they tend to save money on maintenance and fuel costs in the long term.
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