After successfully integrating Teslas into its police fleet, Newport, Kentucky, is planning to add more electric vehicles (EVs) for other city departments. The move comes after the Newport Police Department saw cost savings and efficiency improvements with their new EVs.
The city’s journey with EVs began in December 2023, when the police department added three Tesla Model 3s for administrative use. Impressed by their performance, the department added two more in November, reports Spectrum News 1.
Captain Kevin Drohan explained the shift was driven by rising costs of traditional police vehicles. While Dodge Durangos cost over $50,000 each, the Tesla Model 3 base models cost about $39,000. Additionally, EVs save significantly on fuel, with charging costing as little as $15 a month.
“People see these cars as luxury vehicles, but we’re just buying the base models,” Drohan said.
Assistant Chief Herschel Day noted, “This is always recording. It shows all the different views, making it easier to avoid accidents and gather evidence.”
The EVs have also inspired officers to consider purchasing their own. “As soon as they get in and drive it, they’re sold,” Day added.
Now, Newport is looking to expand EVs to the Planning, Development, and Code departments. Drohan believes EVs are perfect for the city’s compact size, reducing fuel and maintenance costs for daily use. Newport is also installing a Level 3 supercharger to support its growing EV fleet.
Even the fire department is exploring the addition of EVs, showing that Newport is embracing sustainable and efficient solutions across all areas of city operations.
Recently, we saw Unplugged Performance show off their Tesla police mods, impressing officers with the power of EVs. Expect more EV police vehicles to hit the road, especially Teslas.
