A Tesla Model S is about as far from a Ford Crown Victoria as you can imagine, but the former might just replace the latter in the police fleets of the U.S.
As part of a larger effort to be more environmentally friendly, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) announced Friday that it would be leasing a Tesla Model S P85D and a BMW i3 for research into electric vehicles (EV).
The city of Los Angeles is looking to lease a total of 160 EVs, which would give it the largest city-owned EV fleet in the U.S.
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti announced the lease of the Tesla and BMW at a press conference Friday, saying that LA is taking "another step toward becoming the most sustainable city in America.”
Mayor Garcetti announced his Sustainable City Plan in April, with a heavy emphasis on the adoption of electric vehicles.
Both the Model S and the i3 are EVs, but the similarities end there. The BMW is a small city car with an 81-mile range and a price of around $42,400. The Tesla is the world's quickest sedan, which seats a family of seven and costs $105,000.
One presumes the LAPD is leasing these two very different cars to determine which meets its needs better.
These two are arguably the best EVs currently on sale.
#LAPD: @LAPDChiefBeck speaking at the news conference on Historic Transition to Green Energy Vehicles. pic.twitter.com/n1KdFOrX8F— LAPD HQ (@LAPDHQ) September 11, 2015
It's easy to balk at the prices of these two cars, even the (relatively) cheap i3, but more affordable EVs are well on their way. Tesla is set to launch the $35,000 Model 3 in 2017, which will cost even less after the federal tax credit, and Chevrolet will challenge with the even-cheaper Bolt.
A post on the LAPD blog also notes that the switch to EVs will save about $0.16 per mile compared to a normal car, which in fleet vehicles that rack up miles will help make up the added up-front costs of the vehicles.
Of course, environmental factors play in here as well, especially in light of California's statewide climate plans in a state acutely aware of heat and drought impacts related to climate change.
California's energy grid is already among the cleanest in the country too, so the environmental benefits of switching to EVs will be more significant than if this were to be done in a state with more coal-fired power plants, such as Ohio.
EVs are well-suited for municipal use; they excel in low-speed urban environments, where gas-powered cars use more fuel traveling at low speeds. Range wouldn't be much of an issue since the vehicles would presumably stay within a limited radius.
It will be interesting to see how EVs stand up to the abuse of police duty however; the venerable Ford Crown Victoria drank fuel in a manner that would make Corvette owners blush, but it was tough.
It remains to be seen if an i3 or a Model S can stand up to the task.