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Tesla Model Y electric vehicles will form the full fleet of the South Pasadena Police Department in California. The PD, which will convert its entire fleet to electric vehicles, will be the first of its kind in the US.

The South Pasadena Police Department will convert its entire fleet of police vehicles to electric vehicles. This will make it the first in the US to make such a conversion, according to authorities on Monday. This move is huge and a great example for all other police agencies in the country.

The conversion will be made possible by nearly $500,000 in “clean transportation funding” from the Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction Review Committee, along with “significant” investments by both Southern California Edison's Charge Ready program and the South Pasadena City Council, according to Pasadena Star-News (via Tesla North).

South Pasadena has not only made a big statement but has already moved into action. According to officials, an order of ten Tesla Model Ys has already been placed. The electric car is an excellent choice as a police car. It is relatively inexpensive, has powerful characteristics, and is very spacious. Model Y is already in service with several police departments around the US and has only positive reviews. The City will also install nine “Level II” electric vehicle chargers for the police and one “Level III” electric vehicle charger.

According to South Pasadena Councilmember Michael Cacciotti, the project supports the city’s Climate Action Plan, procuring state-of-the-art public safety vehicle technology.

“We will be putting our officers in the safest and most effective police vehicles on the market,” Cacciotti said. “In addition to that, we will be investing in technology that will help reduce harmful vehicle emissions to improve air quality for all our residents. This effort will provide a model for other jurisdictions; we can build a 21st-century police force, save significant resources and clean the air at the same time.”

The City Council voted to shift in September 2022 as the current public safety vehicle life has expired. The City has partnered with MSRC and Southern California Edison. Electric vehicles will not only have a positive impact on the environment but also save taxpayers thousands of dollars—money normally spent on refueling and maintaining internal combustion engine vehicles. It is much cheaper to charge with electricity, and the electric vehicles themselves are almost maintenance-free, as they do not have complex mechanisms, such as an engine, which can break down.

© 2023, Eva Fox | Tesmanian. All rights reserved.

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