The Alpharetta Police Department in Georgia is considering a groundbreaking shift toward electric vehicles, proposing the acquisition of four Tesla Model Y units for both patrol and administrative duties.
Major Trent Lindgren presented the initiative to county council members, requesting a budget of $349,910.70. This amount would cover both the vehicles and necessary charging infrastructure. The Teslas would be specially equipped for police use by Unplugged Performance’s UP.FIT unit.
While the initial investment appears substantial, Lindgren emphasized that cost savings are the primary motivation. Before tax credits, the Tesla patrol units would cost $80,744 each, while administrative versions would be priced at $59,722. These figures compare favorably with current fleet options – Ford Explorer patrol vehicles at $70,629.88 and Chevrolet Tahoe patrol vehicles at $79,811.41.
NEWS: The Alpharetta, Georgia police department has proposed buying @Tesla patrol, admin cars to provide the city’s police officers a cheaper, more efficient alternative.
— Sawyer Merritt (@SawyerMerritt) October 31, 2024
The police gave a presentation to council members, asking them to consider the $349,910 purchase of four… pic.twitter.com/GXKdJ7Lleo
The potential savings extend beyond purchase price. Traditional police vehicles typically last 6-8 years or about 110,000 miles, with officers spending up to 10 hours daily in their vehicles. The electric vehicles are expected to provide significant reductions in both fuel and maintenance costs.
“At the end of the day, this is about being a good steward of the taxpayers’ money,” Lindgren explained during his presentation.
If approved, these four Model Y police vehicles would serve as a pilot program, allowing the department to evaluate real-world savings and advantages of electric vehicles in law enforcement applications. Officer feedback would be carefully collected and analyzed over several years to determine the viability of EVs for police work.
The initiative could mark the beginning of a larger transition – the Alpharetta PD currently operates approximately 70 gas-powered patrol vehicles, suggesting significant potential for future electric vehicle adoption if the pilot proves successful.
