Tesla Model Y To Save Police Department $80,000

Just looking at the higher upfront price of an electric patrol car, the cost savings can make up for it in six to 18 months.

Model Y Police Cruiser

Steven Loveday

By: Steven Loveday

Feb 7, 2023 at 8:30am ET

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The Somerset Police Department in Wisconsin decided to choose a Tesla Model Y as one of its new patrol cars. While the Model Y crossover is more expensive than several other EVs, Somerset's police chief says it's going to save the city $80,000. Imagine if the department converted its entire fleet of cars to EVs.

It will come as no surprise if electric cars, trucks, and SUVs eventually become the new norm for police departments and other government agencies. There are arguably many more reasons to make the switch than not, such as no tailpipe emissions, better overall performance, no noise pollution, roomier accommodations, and the list goes on and on.

That said, even if we ignore all the other potential pros and just look at the money savings, it seems like adopting EVs for our country's police department is really a no-brainer. Many police departments are already strapped for cash, and we can only imagine there's a lot each department could do with an extra $80,000, or a whole lot more than that if they were to replace multiple gassers with EVs.

According to a recent article published by Electrek, Somerset Police Chief Joel Trepczyk went into detail about why the department decided to buy a Tesla Model Y, and how much money it's going to save. The boss was clear that the financial aspect was what made the department move forward with the Tesla. He listed the following benefits of the Model Y over a gas patrol car (via Electrek):

No oil changes
Regenerative braking
Battery designed for 500,000 miles
Drivetrain/motors designed for 1,000,000 miles
Five-year/125,000 mile drivetrain and battery warranty
Most are American-made vehicles
Highest crash test rating
Superior performance
Long vehicle life

The department used funds from the American Rescue Plan Act to buy the electric patrol car. It cost about $60,000 for the Model Y after incentives. Over the course of the next 10 years, the Tesla SUV will save the department more than $80,000, according to Trepczyk.

The chief also pointed out that the officers are enjoying the Model Y. Its 300 miles of range ensures that there are no issues with anxiety. Shifts typically cover about 30 to 60 miles, and once the car is back at the station, it can be plugged into a Tesla Wall Connector that was recently installed.