California police speak out against Tesla police cars, appeal

Police across the country are responding to the changes. Dodge ended production of the previous-generation Charger late last year. Alternatives are not readily available either, and some cities are considering electric vehicles as potential alternatives. But for some, the Tesla Model 3 is far from the perfect pursuit vehicle. Instead, they rely on the Ford F-150 Lightning.

No vehicle is absolutely ideal for police work, but some are certainly better than others. Three recent interviews with department heads across Northern California reveal how officials feel about available electric vehicle options.

READ: Police Chief Furious Over Unreliable Dodge Durango, Losing Big Sales

talking SF Gate Regarding the use of Tesla Model 3s, Ukiah Police Chief Cedric Crook complained that the vehicles are expensive to equip, difficult to charge due to a lack of infrastructure, and not large enough. The Model 3 doesn’t have enough room for two inmates and can only move one inmate at a time.

When high technology turns into trouble

“There’s only room for one inmate in the back seat of a Tesla,” Crook told the Bay Area news site. That could mean more police officers and more cars needed to handle incidents involving multiple suspects, leading to a drain on resources. nervous. Menlo Park Police Chief David Norris has more complaints about his Model Y units.

These safety features can be difficult for officers to navigate and overcome. Because they’re close to the ground, his officers can’t jump over curbs and go off-road as easily as they can with other cars. He also complained about the interior space.

Officers wearing full patrol gear reported that their duty belts and ballistic vests dug into the passenger seats, “making them virtually unusable.” Additionally, they found that so-called “smart” features, such as Autopilot and Proximity Lock, caused trouble when changing gears to drive or trying to pull over.

Tesla can’t win the space race

These criticisms are justified considering the huge difference in passenger capacity between the Tesla Model 3 (and even the Model Y) and the Dodge Charger. The electric sedan offers 97 cubic feet of space (Y = 106 cubic feet), while the tried-and-true Dodge offers 120 cubic feet. This provides more space for personnel and police equipment.

Of course, it’s obvious to most people (even those who aren’t die-hard car enthusiasts) that the Charger and Model 3 don’t belong in the same sedan segment, and that has nothing to do with the type of power they have. A police car made from a Honda Civic with 99 cubic feet of passenger capacity would likely be subject to the same criticism.

More: South Pasadena police now only drive around in Teslas

California’s push to have zero-emission vehicles fully implemented by 2035 will only make things more complicated. Gov. Gavin Newsom’s executive orders have forced many cities to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles, but it has left them in a logistical nightmare. “The big thing that shines is the cars; you have to have the charging infrastructure,” Chief Norris told SF Gate, pointing to the huge gap in EV readiness.

Ford F-150 Lightning is the real MVP

On the other hand, based on the criticism of the Model 3, it’s easy to see why the Fort Bragg Police Department chose the Ford F-150 Lightning. According to department director Neil Cervenka, the Blue Oval’s electric trucks are not only roomier, but also easier to equip and maintain.

“The Ford F-150 is the best-selling truck in America,” Cervenka noted, which means parts are easy to come by and plenty of mechanics know how to fix them, even the Lightning model. On the other hand, “Teslas are tricky,” he added, often requiring “a lot of work from Tesla technicians. When they get into the shop, they’re unusable for a long time.”

Cervenka also highlighted another obstacle for Tesla: While there are plenty of nearby suppliers that modify F-150s for police work, that’s not the case with Tesla. “I have to ship our vehicles to Southern California, equip them, and then ship them back, which is cost-prohibitive,” he explained to SF Gate.

Not everyone is giving up on Tesla

Suffice it to say, not all California police departments are skeptical of Tesla patrol cars. As we reported earlier this summer, the South Pasadena Police Department recently replaced its entire fleet with Model Y and 3 vehicles.

“This move not only ensures officers and staff have the safest vehicles available, but it also significantly reduces fuel and maintenance costs,” South Pasadena Police Chief Brian Solinski said at the time. He estimated that the The switch will save the department approximately $4,000 per year in fuel costs.

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— South Pasadena Police Department (@southpaspd) July 24, 2024

But while Solinski is confident about these savings, only time will tell whether these numbers can be sustained once the day-to-day patrol duties get tough. Will the charging infrastructure, technology quirks and space constraints that have frustrated other departments creep in, or is South Pasadena proving that Teslas can be the future of police fleets? One thing is for sure – this debate is far from over.

The future of electric patrol

As the transition to electric vehicles continues, police departments will undoubtedly have more options to choose from. We already know that Dodge will launch an electric Charger Daytona chase car (possibly a sedan version), which could help fill the gap left by the previous generation, especially if they also offer an ICE-powered version.

That said, EV skeptics aren’t going anywhere, and infrastructure challenges aren’t continuing to frustrate departments already testing electric patrol cars. The path ahead is not as clear as some would have you believe.

Opening Photos Southpasadenaca PD/Unplugged Performance/Carscoops