I read an article today from SFGATE about police testing out new Tesla squad cars in California. California is pushing hard for zero vehicle emissions by 2035, and squad cars make up a large part of the Government fleet. So, naturally, some police departments have started to test out the functionality of using Teslas as squad cars.
According to the article, it hasn’t been working out so well with police, and there’s been a pushback. My initial suspicious was that the battery life and charging wouldnt’ be compatible with the demands of driving a squad car all day.
Transporting prisoners is an issue.
Many times, squad cars are used to transfer prisoners from one facility to the other. In some cases, towns that don’t have a juvenile detention center may have to transport a teen suspect dozens of miles.
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What if you have a dangerous prisoner you need to transport across the state? You’ll need to stop and charge in an unprotected location and wait for up to an hour with the prisoner in your car. That’s not ideal safety and could make the squad a target.
Police do enjoy the performance.
Most departments have picked the Tesla Y for their EV model. Most police officers initial response is positive because of the acceleration and performance.
There’s difficulty in modifying Teslas to make the Squad Cars.
For decades squad cars have been purchased by police departments and then are sent to a third party to make them into squad cars. Dodge, Ford, and Chevy vehicles have been commonly used, so parts and equipment are easier to install. Tesla’s are a whole new design, which causes some issues finding parts that fit, like guards, gun racks, armor, and other things.
The back seat is too small.
Police in California have complained about the back seat in the Tesla Y only being big enough to transport one person. That means when police have suspects sequestered, they can no longer fit two people in the back of a squad.
The interior can be too small for a duty belt.
Police have bulky duty belts that hold their equipment such a tasers, pepper spray, radio, firearms, and handcuffs among other things. With the sleek interior of a Tesla Y, they’ve had problems getting their duty belt caught.
Several Minnesota departments are testing EVs.
The Northfield Police Department added a Ford Mustang MACH -E to their fleet in 2023. There was a delay in receiving it due to supply chain issues, but it is in the middle of a test program. According to KYMNRADIO, the chief says they will see about the battery life and Minnesota winters. He also wants to see how they will handle different types of calls.
Eden Praire is operating electric vehicles.
Drive Electric Minnesota reported in 2021 that Edina had purchased several EV vehicles. One of the vehicles was a Tesla Model Y that was equipped with a police cruiser.
Last year, Edina TV shared a YouTube video of their new Ford Lightning F-150 all-electric police vehicle.
Bigger EVs may be a better fit for police departments.
It appears the bigger F-150 lightning may be a more practical choice for many departments. Edina seems to like it, and other California departments have had better luck with the Ford product. Chevy also has an E-Blazer that some police departments have used.
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