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Tesla Model S - As a Police Car?
- Thread starter SabrToothSqrl
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jerjozwik
Active Member
I think you're on an island with that perception. Its very normal for different police teams to have high end exotic vehicles to promote different elements such as "war on drugs", "MADD", and keeping racing at the track etc. Moreover, as others have pointed out, Aston Martin, Ferrari, Mercedes, Audi, and Porsche (among others) haven't suffered one bit being promoted as police vehicles in Dubai...Mercedes G63, Audi R8, Nissan GT-R: Dubai Police luxury fleet... - Emirates 24|7
freeewilly
Member
I'm going to keep this photo in all my cars, even the LAPD didn't put front license plate on the Model S.
AMPd
Well-Known Member
ddimit
Member
Law enforcement will claim they are exempt. if you look at most CA Squad car with push bars. most do not have a front plate
AMPd
Well-Known Member
SwedishAdvocate
Active Member
Canuck
Well-Known Member
Tesla police cars trialled overseas
The Los Angeles Police Department have evaluated a pair of Tesla Model S P85Ds as potential future cop cars, with the department using the cars for more than a year.
Sadly for Tesla, the evaluation resulted in a ‘thanks, but no thanks’ from the department.
The Los Angeles Police Department have evaluated a pair of Tesla Model S P85Ds as potential future cop cars, with the department using the cars for more than a year.
Sadly for Tesla, the evaluation resulted in a ‘thanks, but no thanks’ from the department.
Blu Zap
Grinning member
Too bad for LAPD to not go with the MS cruisers. Probably too high a capital cost in the short term and not looking at long term operating expense savings. Oh yeah, and that green thing, too. Oh well, let them drive Nissan Leafs, that gives the option for us to outrun them at any time!
You hit it on the head. Article indicated that LAPD found the Model S too expensive. Also said charging infrastructure was not sufficient, and they were concerned with being able to keep using the vehicle with black outs, etc... Maybe Model 3 will be a better option? At least with capital costs...
This is not an actual police vehicle,
This vehicle was used in the sci-fi television show Extant. The show featured both the Model X and Model S as vehicles for the main characters. The police vehicle also had a removable bull bar (was present in some shots, and not in others).
coming from someone that has experience disassembling and rebuilding many cars (tesla and police cruisers included)
I can tell you without a doubt that the model S is not ready for the prime time abuse that police cruisers take, it would be ideal for the police fluff cars (promotional vehicles) but not the day to day abuse, no way, no how.
I can tell you without a doubt that the model S is not ready for the prime time abuse that police cruisers take, it would be ideal for the police fluff cars (promotional vehicles) but not the day to day abuse, no way, no how.
I've worked on over 20 different Model S's in the last year that have been in various accidents and strange situations. I don't agree. I've found the Model S to be exceptionally tough, at least as far as it's mechanicals, with a scant few exceptions. Definitely much better than a Crown Vic. The structure of the Model S is extremely strong. A friend or mine has repaired severe accident damage on the S, and he tells me when they try to pull the structure on the body rack, it is very difficult, and then when they stop pulling it wants to bounce right back. They have to pull it almost twice as far as they need, to break it's "memory". Even the aluminum panels are very springy and tend to want to snap back.
There are so many vehicles better than a Crown Vic. Want the real story, ask a SF Cabbie! Here in San Francisco, the city was one of the first in the world to mandate Hybrids for the Taxi fleet. The cabbies were forced to give up their beloved Crown Vics. Most ended up in a used Gen 2 Prius. At first they hated the Prius, but as time went on, they fell in love with them. I know this because a friend of mine owns a Hybrid specialist repair shop, so they service a lot of cabs these days. Not that a Prius is a bad car, but it goes to show you how bad a Crown Vic really is. I've seen many Prii with over a half a million miles and still out on the grind every day. Amazing! If a Prius can trounce a Crown Vic, Imagine what a Tesla will do!
If I was going to release a "Police Interceptor" version Model S, I would change only a few things:
1. Wheels: Definitely need more rubber on the sidewalls, so would have to be 19's. Sadly, I don't think you can fit anything smaller, and you can't really raise the aspect ratio without hitting the upper ball joint. This would be the #1 limitation for severe duty. Locate a steel wheel that will fit the specs. Still is less brittle and will absorb more energy.
2. Ball joints: Somehow these are exceptionally brittle and shear off pretty easily if you smack a curb. I bet I can find something from the Daimler catalog that will substitute.
3. Clearance: Definitely have to have air suspension so the clearance can be dialed up on demand. Though, I would need more compliance in the damper valving too.
4. Drive line: I'm assuming the DU reliability has improved and this is a non-issue. Even if not, the city mechanics can swap a DU in a few hours and have the car back in service for low $.
4. Seats: Police version would need to be much tougher. Cool thing is you can put in an bench seat easily. (not cool, but...) Add a system that retracts the seat and lowers it an inch or 2 really rapidly as soon as the door is opened, so the patrolman can enter/exit easier with a full utility belt and/or gun without smacking his head on the A pillar, which leads me to...
Overall I think the X would be a much better vehicle. The personnel would be happier and there is more room for perps, headache rack, etc. Secure weapon storage in the frunk. Not sure about the falcon wings, but maybe something can be done.
Though by far, there is no doubt that an EV would make a better vehicle for police use. Police vehicles do a LOT of idling. This all goes away in an EV. A few SpC's at the city garage, and it's done. Or maybe this is a place for the battery swap station. Either way, The savings would be immense! Maybe when Tesla becomes one of the "big three" they can roll a specific vehicle for this market. It could be awesome!
There are so many vehicles better than a Crown Vic. Want the real story, ask a SF Cabbie! Here in San Francisco, the city was one of the first in the world to mandate Hybrids for the Taxi fleet. The cabbies were forced to give up their beloved Crown Vics. Most ended up in a used Gen 2 Prius. At first they hated the Prius, but as time went on, they fell in love with them. I know this because a friend of mine owns a Hybrid specialist repair shop, so they service a lot of cabs these days. Not that a Prius is a bad car, but it goes to show you how bad a Crown Vic really is. I've seen many Prii with over a half a million miles and still out on the grind every day. Amazing! If a Prius can trounce a Crown Vic, Imagine what a Tesla will do!
If I was going to release a "Police Interceptor" version Model S, I would change only a few things:
1. Wheels: Definitely need more rubber on the sidewalls, so would have to be 19's. Sadly, I don't think you can fit anything smaller, and you can't really raise the aspect ratio without hitting the upper ball joint. This would be the #1 limitation for severe duty. Locate a steel wheel that will fit the specs. Still is less brittle and will absorb more energy.
2. Ball joints: Somehow these are exceptionally brittle and shear off pretty easily if you smack a curb. I bet I can find something from the Daimler catalog that will substitute.
3. Clearance: Definitely have to have air suspension so the clearance can be dialed up on demand. Though, I would need more compliance in the damper valving too.
4. Drive line: I'm assuming the DU reliability has improved and this is a non-issue. Even if not, the city mechanics can swap a DU in a few hours and have the car back in service for low $.
4. Seats: Police version would need to be much tougher. Cool thing is you can put in an bench seat easily. (not cool, but...) Add a system that retracts the seat and lowers it an inch or 2 really rapidly as soon as the door is opened, so the patrolman can enter/exit easier with a full utility belt and/or gun without smacking his head on the A pillar, which leads me to...
Overall I think the X would be a much better vehicle. The personnel would be happier and there is more room for perps, headache rack, etc. Secure weapon storage in the frunk. Not sure about the falcon wings, but maybe something can be done.
Though by far, there is no doubt that an EV would make a better vehicle for police use. Police vehicles do a LOT of idling. This all goes away in an EV. A few SpC's at the city garage, and it's done. Or maybe this is a place for the battery swap station. Either way, The savings would be immense! Maybe when Tesla becomes one of the "big three" they can roll a specific vehicle for this market. It could be awesome!
Yeah, it's the idling (and acceleration) that would make EVs great at police cars. They idle so much mostly due to the huge power draw all the police electronics, computers, radios, etc. consume. I agree that the Model S as currently built isn't ideal for other reasons. I suspect it'll take about 15 years before we get the right chassis for an EV for a police car (fundamentally, the sedan needs to be bulkier, which means better batteries).
I was looking at things from a practicality aspect.
Yes the Model S is extremely well built. I took a pic of the inside channels that the HV cable runs to the DC/DC converter in the passenger wheel well and the honeycomb boxed structure is the real deal, also the parts car was in a front end collision at 45 mph and the passenger frame rail is 100% straight, just the end cap was kinked... 45 MPH. He said the truck he hit had a frame rail that was bent over 12 inches.
The main thing police departments are looking for is how easily and quickly a car can be turned around after a repair, (cops aren't going to ride on bikes everywhere!), police cars get jacked up, all the time. Whether they are climbing curbs, moving cars out of the way with the front push bar , rammed, emergency manuevers etc. With the car as the primary means for transport, if there is downtime it has to be kept to a minimum
Crown Vic?
The crown vic was a sloppy handling car at best, its saving grace was the fact that you couldn't go more than a few mins without seeing one (police cars, cab drivers, etc. their needs are similar, high availability and high durability), the good thing about them.... parts are plentiful and CHEAP....
DOOR HANDLES
Crown Vic
Broke door handle.... cool, get one from another car we have laying around or even off ebay for 10$ and about 20 mins of labor...
Tesla
Get one off ebay for 250$ or better yet from Tesla for 900$ with labor (with 5 days wait time, oh wait, sorry, part is backordered, that will be 9 days)
Engine/Motor
Crown vic
Engine blown? find used engine for 600$ replace in a few hours... kill bad guy
Tesla
DU Failure? find used one for 5,000$. install.... pray.
High Speed Pursuit
Crown Vic
high speed pursuit? pit manuever, run bad guy off the road.
Tesla
*During high speed pursuit* WE ALMOST GOT EM BOYS!!! *looks down at display* ---12V Battery low, please pull over safely, car may not be able to drive, please contact Tesla service---
Robbery
Crown vic
Jump in car, kill bad guy
Tesla
Robbery in progress on 42nd street? Great let me just jump in the Tesla and head over.... hold on, door handles aren't auto presenting... cant get into the car... let me call a ranger.
Passenger side Collision
Crown vic
Replace front wheel hub, spindle, shock, fender and wheel + alignment = $500, -----> then drive then kill bad guys
Tesla
Replace front wheel hub, spindle, air suspension shock, fender, wheel + alignment = $3500, -----> discover DC/DC converter issue, car will not start
Ok, enough of my overexaggerated examples. My main point is that there is just too much Tech and too many areas for things to go wrong in a Tesla before its ready for prime time. I think the car will have to be very simplified before its ready....The things that we look past as cute and funny quirks of the car like door handles failing, main screen freezing, range anxiety, and 12v failures are not options out in the field.
I have a buddy out in CA that promised me a Tesla factory tour, if I HAD TO drive out there and take a car that wouldn't have a single blip, error message, or hiccup, it probably wouldn't be the Tesla (probably because mine doesn't run right now anyway)
what were we talking about again?
RogerHScott
Active Member
When a Tesla police cruiser pulls up to you, your response is, of course: "What's the charge, officer?" 
Chopr147
Active Member
Police departments driving $100,000 dollar cars!!?? Each police car has several drivers (depending on dep't size of course)
And if I were a police chief there would be several names that immediately come to mind on who is banned from driving the Tesla Some cops have a habit of going thru too many cars I know this from experience. The old Crown Victoria's were perfect. Large car, takes a beating, cheap parts etc... Police garages have certain parts in stock that continue to fail. The Tahoe transmissions would go like clockwork at 50k in my dep't. But I still love 'em
And if I were a police chief there would be several names that immediately come to mind on who is banned from driving the Tesla
Some cops have a habit of going thru too many cars I know this from experience. The old Crown Victoria's were perfect. Large car, takes a beating, cheap parts etc... Police garages have certain parts in stock that continue to fail. The Tahoe transmissions would go like clockwork at 50k in my dep't. But I still love 'emSimilar threads
