Police Chief Explains How Tesla Patrol Cars Saved Their Department Tons Of Money – SlashGear

According to Police1 News, the chief of Somerset Police hasn’t made the switch because the Tesla will perform better in a chase or can pack more suspects into the back. Instead, Chief Joel Trepczyk has made the switch purely for financial reasons. The chief expects his department to save a staggering $80,000 per vehicle over its 10-year lifespan. The list of areas where the Model Y could present a saving included a lack of “oil changes,” its “battery designed for 500,000 miles,” its “five-year/125,000 mile drivetrain and battery warranty,” and the fact it is “American made.” The Model Y’s 300-mile range is also more than enough to handle the average shift — which the Chief says averages between 30 and 60 miles. The chief explains the stark contrast between the Model Y and one of the department’s previous vehicles, saying: “Our most recent retired Ford Police Interceptor Utility racked up over $15,000 worth of maintenance and repair, depreciated over $30,000 and was averaging 10 MPG over its five-year/100,000-mile duty cycle.” The vehicles cost the department $60,000 each, and the purchase price has been covered through a mixture of LEA grants and donations. A level 2 charging station has also been donated and installed at the station, so the cars can be topped up while off duty.

Apparently, feedback from the officers driving the Teslas has been good so far, and Somerset PD isn’t the only department who have made the switch. Chief Trepczyk says that other local departments, including Eden Prairie Police Department and Eagan Police Department, have also jumped on the electric bandwagon.