Tesla Police Cars Are Making Life More Difficult For Washington Cops
By Mikelle Leow, 11 Apr 2022
A photo of a Tesla Model Y, the model used by the Spokane Police Department. Photo 229199576 © Tatiana Golmer | Dreamstime.com
Owning a Tesla may be a dream for many, but for law enforcers in Spokane, Washington, it’s a less-peachy dream.
As per 4 News Now, the local police department isn’t impressed by the Tesla Model Y cars that it adopted earlier this year. The electric vehicles just haven’t been able to keep up with the laborious hours that officers have had to commit on the road.
Major Mike McNab explained to the news outlet that the cars have been put through two shifts per day, with a three-hour break in between, as some police officers work for more than 10 hours. This is too much for Tesla batteries to bear.
Having to charge the cars also disrupts work for law enforcers. Major McNab said that due to the high-stakes scenarios officers face each day, nobody has time for the added burden of keeping patrol cars alive.
With patrol officers decked in full gear, the interior is also too cramped for two law enforcers to be seated in front for prolonged periods of time. The middle console would have to be removed for the officers to be seated comfortably.
Luckily, the Teslas won’t be wasted. The electric cars have been donated to the domestic violence unit, whose officers focus more on detective work and wouldn’t have to stay seated in a vehicle for 10 hours.
Interestingly, the department isn’t giving up on electric vehicles—it’s just not into Teslas. And although converting an EV into a police car costs about US$30,000, City Council President Breean Beggs pointed out that the choice would be more economical in the long run. “These electric vehicles are reported to last twice as long,” noted Beggs. “Any time you buy an electric vehicle, it’s like you’re buying two vehicles for one.”
[via Carbuzz and KXLY, cover photo 229199576 © Tatiana Golmer | Dreamstime.com]