Photo: City of Hallandale Beach

13 Tesla Model Y joined the police fleet of the City of Hallandale in Florida. 12 vehicles will be used by detectives and one will be tested as a patrol car.

The city of Hallandale, Florida, has purchased a large batch of Tesla electric vehicles consisting of 13 units. According to WSVN, all vehicles are Model Y. The comfortable, efficient, economic, and environmentally friendly vehicles have been handed over to the City of Hallandale Police Department. 12 of them will be used by detectives, and one will be tested as a patrol car.

Tesla vehicles are increasingly becoming the choice of police departments in the US and beyond. In 2021-2022, many police departments in the US have chosen Model Y, and in particular, they have used them as patrol cars. However, the purchase of 13 Tesla cars by one police department is a record.

“With this purchase, we’re taking a step into the future of Hallandale Beach, which is sustainable both financially and environmentally,” said City Manager Dr. Jeremy Earl. “We’re thrilled to be rolling out the largest deployment of electric police vehicles in the state of Florida, we believe the largest deployment in the United States, and to get these EVs on the road.”

The city has used a variety of means to fund the purchase, including federal funding through the American Rescue Plan. Tesla's cars start at a higher cost than its gas-powered rivals but end up being much more economical, especially given the current cost of gasoline.

“These Tesla police vehicles represent a win-win-win for our police officers, for the City’s residents and for the environment,” said the City of Hallandale Beach Vice Mayor Mike Butler. “Our officers are getting an ideal vehicle for their work, our residents are saving money over traditional police vehicles and can be proud that Hallandale Beach is one of the first Police Departments in the country to go electric. And finally, as a beach community directly affected by rising sea levels, these cars will reduce the city’s contribution to climate change.”

The resale value of electric vehicles was a factor in their final decision to go electric, the city said. The used Model Ys will sell for almost 1.8 times more than their gas vehicle counterparts, after the city puts the cars up for auction at the end of their service.

Another major buying point for Tesla was the city's decision to comply with its 50 by 30 Climate Action Plan. Buying electric vehicles will help the city reduce fleet-related emissions.

“As mayor, I understand how important each and every step we take to reduce our carbon footprint is in addressing global warming,” said Hallandale Beach Mayor Joy Cooper. “Adding police cars to our green vehicle fleet with the goal to fully go green is in progress. We have worked with our chief and officers to ensure these vehicles are not only green but will provide the performance needed to protect our officers and community.”

Charging stations for Tesla vehicles will be installed in the parking lots of police stations. In partnership with Florida Power and Light, four Level 2 dual charging stations will be installed at no additional construction cost to the city. The chargers will be connected to the existing backup power supply, allowing these vehicles to be used even in the event of power supply problems. There are currently nine Level 2 chargers in the city that can also charge Teslas.

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