Police departments across the U.S. (and beyond) have been investing in electric vehicles in recent times, though some critics point to their higher price tags upon purchase. What many don’t realize, nonetheless, is how much money police forces stand to avoid wasting in maintenance and fuel costs on EVs, as was recently identified by a department in Somerset, Wisconsin that bought a Model Y.
Above: Somerset’s Tesla Model Y Police Cruiser (Image: Somerset Police Department).
Somerset Police Department recently purchased a Tesla Model Y to be used as a patrol cruiser, citing estimates of around $83,810 saved over a 10-year period, as in comparison with a Ford Explorer Hybrid, and as detailed by Automotive Scoops earlier this month. The department purchased the vehicle for around $60,000 using funding from the American Rescue Plan Act, based on a recent Q&A held with Somerset’s police chief.
The goal of buying the Model Y was to “save taxpayers money and eliminate idle waste/cost,” based on Somerset Police Chief Joel J. Trepczyk.
Trepczyk says the Model Y cruiser will probably be shared amongst officers within the department and has been a “popular selection” to date, though most are still adjusting to using “one-pedal driving and quick acceleration.” The department also had a Tesla wall connector installed on the office to charge the vehicle while not in use, and Trepczyk also added that the majority officers only average between 30 and 60 miles per shift.
With the expected 500,000-mile battery expectation for the Model Y, the department was in a position to base savings estimates on the SUV’s 10-year duty cycle — expected to be twice the lifespan of a typical Ford gas cruiser. Ultimately, the savings would justify the price of buying the EV to start with, as Trepczyk explains.
As for the crew’s experiences with the Model Y cruiser, Trepczyk says a lot of the department’s officers have expressed positive thoughts.
“Thus far, so good! The feedback has been positive and the officers seem to decide on the brand new squad over the others,” Trepczyk said within the Q&A. “The more you see this Tesla police automotive on the road, the more cash our village will probably be saving.”
Nearby departments to Somerset PD which can be already using Tesla’s vehicles include the Eden Prairie Police Department and the Eagan Police Department, with many more across the country shifting toward EVs as a result of their lowered maintenance costs.
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