A city in Southern California has become the first in the United States to replace all its police patrol cars with electric vehicles. Officials announced this big change on Monday, showing off a fleet of 20 new Teslas.
South Pasadena, near Los Angeles, is making this switch to help protect public health and fight climate change by reducing emissions. The new Teslas will use electric vehicle chargers that were recently installed at City Hall.
Police cars usually idle a lot during traffic stops and emergency calls, which adds to air pollution. Michael Cacciotti, a city councilmember, said this change is very important because the Los Angeles area has the worst air in the nation. “We hope other police departments will also make the switch,” Cacciotti said.
Some cities have a few electric cars, but South Pasadena is the first to switch entirely to electric. Anaheim, a nearby city, started using six Teslas earlier this year.
South Pasadena Police Sgt. Tony Abdalla said they were learning from about 35 other police departments across the U.S. that have tried using Teslas.
The new fleet includes 10 Tesla Model Ys for patrol and 10 Tesla Model 3s for detective and office work. The city spent $1.85 million on this project, but more than half of the cost was covered by Southern California Edison, the Clean Power Alliance, and the Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction Review Committee.
“This new fleet will be safe, clean, and save taxpayer dollars,” said South Pasadena Mayor Evelyn Zneimer. Switching to electric cars is expected to save South Pasadena about $4,000 each year per car on energy costs. It will also save money on maintenance like brakes and oil changes. Police Chief Brian Solinsky said the cost to run these cars will be at least half of what it was with gas-powered cars.
The Los Angeles-Long Beach area has the worst smog in the country and ranks sixth for particle pollution, according to the American Lung Association. Emissions also contribute to climate change, which is partly to blame for more frequent wildfires in the region.
California’s new rule requires public agencies to make 50% of their vehicle purchases zero-emissions starting this year and 100% by 2027. However, police cars and other emergency vehicles are currently exempt from this rule.
South Pasadena installed 34 Level 2 chargers in various locations, including the Police Department and City Hall. Fourteen of these chargers will be available for public use. They will also add a Level 3 fast charger soon.
The city will also install solar panels and battery storage across from City Hall to provide backup power in case of a power outage.
South Pasadena decided to lease the vehicles because it was more cost-effective. They chose Enterprise Fleet Management for this through a cooperative purchasing program, which helps public agencies buy goods and services. The switch to electric cars, especially the Tesla Model Y, is expected to save the city over $312,000 over ten years. The city council approved the plan on September 21, 2022, after more than three years of research and learning from other police departments.
