The South Pasadena Police Department is set to become the first law enforcement agency in the United States to convert its entire fleet of vehicles to electric, announced the city on Monday.
The change is made possible through nearly $500,000 in clean transportation funding provided by the Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction Review Committee (MSRC), along with significant investments from Southern California Edison’s Charge Ready program and the South Pasadena City Council.
Officials have confirmed that the city will purchase 10 Tesla Model Y patrol vehicles as part of the transition. To address infrastructure needs, nine police-dedicated Level II electric vehicle chargers and one Level III charger will also be installed, reports the Pasadena Star-News. The Model Y has become a popular EV for police departments globally.
The Tesla Model Y starts at $47,240 for the entry AWD, while the Dual Motor version ramps up to $50,240. California is one of Tesla’s biggest markets and Tesla vehicles are seemingly everywhere.
South Pasadena Councilmember Michael Cacciotti emphasized that the project aligns with the city’s Climate Action Plan and will equip officers with cutting-edge public safety vehicle technology.
“We will be putting our officers in the safest and most effective police vehicles on the market,” Cacciotti stated. He added that the project will not only help reduce harmful vehicle emissions and improve air quality for residents but also serve as a model for other jurisdictions. “We can build a 21st-century police force, save significant resources, and clean the air at the same time.”
In September 2022, the City Council voted in favor of the switch as the current public safety vehicle fleet had reached the end of its useful service life. South Pasadena has since collaborated with the MSRC and Southern California Edison to bring this initiative to fruition.
