Atherton, California city manager wants Model S as Police Cruisers

[hileyms]

Report on Worldcarfans web site today.

Atherton, California city manager has expressed his desire to acquire several brand new Tesla Model S cars to use them as police cruisers.
In an interview given to San Jose Mercury News, George Rodericks who is the city manager of Atherton, California said "I'd love to see the [Tesla] Model S be used for Atherton's police cars." This shouldn't come as a surprise since 15.4 percent of all new cars sold in Atherton are Tesla Model S, according to data obtained by Edmunds.
As Motor Authority points out, the all-electric Tesla Model S has a few aces up its sleeve which would make it suitable for a police cruiser, such as more room for police-related hardware inside the cabin as a result of the absence of a tunnel running down the middle of the car. In addition, the Model S is a seriously quick car taking into account the Performance model will sprint to 60 mph (96 km/h) in about 4.5 seconds and it's also the safest car to ever be tested by NHTSA.

 

[SwedishAdvocate]

The last paragraph:

Tesla Model S is top-selling vehicle in tiny, tony Atherton - San Jose Mercury News


It has even been picked up in Sweden (in Swedish):

Tesla Model S – den perfekta polisbilen? :: Nyheter - auto motor sport

(Translation: Tesla Model S – The Perfect Police Car?)

 

[hileyms]

Does the last line of the article in Swedish ask if the Swedish police might use the Model S as an alternative to the XC70's?

 

[SwedishAdvocate]

No, not really. It’s just the journo addressing the reader(s). Translation:

What do you think dear readers – should the Swedish National Police Board take a closer look at the Tesla Model S as an alternative to the Swedish Police [current] hot favorite – the Volvo XC70?

 

[widodh]

Install a SuperCharger or 20kW HPWC at the local Donut shop (no offence ) and they'll be good to go!

One of the things which could be a problem is the range on high speeds when doing a chase, but that could be solved if you make sure if you consistently charge them and never let them run low.

Some friends of mine are firefighters and they have to fill up their diesel tanks when they go below 75% filling.

 

[doug]

This is Atherton. The cops don't really have much to do compared to other places.

 

[Darren]

This is Atherton. The cops don't really have much to do compared to other places.

Seriously. The best is the police blotter section of the local newspaper.

 

[TEG]

They needs Model S police cars if they have a chance of keeping up with all the Model S in town. Can't have the cop cars being the slowest cars in town!

- - - Updated - - -

Seriously. The best is the police blotter section of the local newspaper.

http://www.mercurynews.com/peninsula/ci_18770819

 

[Gizmotoy]

Wow. That blotter is hilarious.

A man was reported to be sitting down and talking to himself. Police made contact and confirmed he was using a cellphone.

A person seen walking at midday for two days in a row was contacted and determined to be using lunch breaks to get some exercise.

:biggrin:

 

[Michael2000]

A woman told police someone rang her doorbell but when she called out to ask who it was, no one answered. Police responded and determined the visitor had delivered a package.

A male truck driver wearing gloves reportedly made a U-turn and then stared at a person.

Talk about being on edge!

Michael

 

[yobigd20]

One of the things which could be a problem is the range on high speeds when doing a chase, but that could be solved if you make sure if you consistently charge them and never let them run low.

This might backfire once the bad guys realize all they have to do is drop a tow hitch on the road to get away....

 

[TEG]

This might backfire once the bad guys realize all they have to do is drop a tow hitch on the road to get away....

I am embarrassed that I laughed at that.

 

[Zapped]

Well if it's a TESLA chasing a TESLA and it sounds like the chances are good in Atherton,
it could look something like this (evens the odds )
Police Chase

 

[TEG]

 

[AMPd]

Highway Patrol could always take over the high speed pursuits

 

[strider]

Highway Patrol could always take over the high speed pursuits

Yeah, this is the densely populated Bay Area. There are choppers in the air and lots of other support long before a Model S will run out of range.

 

[JohnQ]

I would not want him to be the steward of my tax dollars.

 

[AMPd]

I would not want him to be the steward of my tax dollars.

I haven't done the math but maybe a model s will save money in the long run.

 

[SwedishAdvocate]

AustinEV did a workup on it. Here:

TMC | Model S | Tesla “Model P” – a compelling case for Model S in Police fleets

 

[JohnQ]

Some big assumptions in that analysis. Assuming 200 miles per day (100 per shift) over a 365 day year, that's 73,000 per year. Retire the vehicle at 200k, that's 3 years worth of serviceable life. Assuming both cars are essentially worthless with 200k on the odometer, that's a 70k operating cost savings the Tesla has to realize over the ICE, or $25k or so per year. Claim is a $21k per annum fuel savings with the balance of 4k in maintenance savings to break even. NB: I know the OP on that thread assumed a different depreciation rate and maintaining the vehicle for twice the life of the ICE; that's an enormous, unsupported assumption. Safer to assume a minimal residual value in each vehicle.

So, we're breaking even. Why would any police department take a risk on a vehicle that's far more expensive to repair (body work on aluminum panels, complete rather than incremental drive train failure, etc) if it's essentially the same lifetime cost as a known quantity?