LAPD to Tesla: 'Thanks, But Maybe Some Other Time'

Steph Willems
by Steph Willems

It was nice of Tesla founder Elon Musk to deliver a Model S P85D to the Los Angeles Police Department for testing last year, but they’re kindly going to return it. Possibly with a note under the wiper asking him to make it much cheaper.

The hyper-performing electric sedan took up residence with the LAPD (along with a BMW i3) last September, part of a research initiative that studied how EVs could fit into a future policing model.

With testing over and grades handed out, the LAPD can now say with confidence that the Model S isn’t their cup of tea. The speed was nice, but the price? This isn’t Dubai.

“Is it practical now? No,” LAPD Police Administrator Vartan Yegiyan told CNBC, adding that he expects to see the price of EVs drop in the next three to five years as technology advances.

“More models will be coming out, and the electricity and electrical grid will become more robust, and more charging stations will be available. While that’s occurring we’ll be in the space learning and contributing to the process.”

Despite offering a “Ludicrous Mode” that rockets the Model S to 60 miles per hour in 2.8 seconds, and could catch pretty much anything on wheels, police departments could buy three Ford Police Interceptor Utility models (Explorer) for the price of one Tesla.

There are other considerations for the LAPD — with the city’s hot climate, a police cruiser’s air conditioning system gets regular workouts. That, plus the officer’s computer system and other electric add-ons, would drain the battery and reduce range.

Many cities, L.A. and New York City to name just a couple, are adding EVs and plug-in hybrids to their fleets, but municipal vehicles are lighter duty, less specialized affairs. For now, police departments need a gas-powered workhorse that doesn’t break the bank.

Steph Willems
Steph Willems

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  • Zip89123 Zip89123 on May 13, 2016

    Other than paying for them, LAPD loved them. Folks would complain if LAPD bought Tesla's, so instead LAPD spends millions for armored vehicles, mobile command centers, and batons for black folks.

    • See 2 previous
    • Corey Lewis Corey Lewis on May 16, 2016

      @Old Man Pants Tazing is much easier, don't have to risk getting any bodily fluids on you.

  • -Nate -Nate on May 16, 2016

    FWIW ; the L.A.P.D. isn't anywhere near done with electric vehicles yet ~ they're testing BMW's tiny little thing right now and training the Mechanics because they anticipate buying a bunch of them for Metro cars , Dispatch , errands and other non patrol / chase use . . They're even saying they're going to re hab the old Central Automotive's Unit Rebuild area into a new stat of the art Electric Vehicle Training Center . . I'm glad I retired =8-) . . Anyone who thinks high speed chases are finished , lives in a cave in who givesadamnastan . . I'd love to share the photos of all the B&W wrecks but they asked me not to . . Explorers are CRAP for Patrol duty . . -Nate

  • CanadaCraig You can just imagine how quickly the tires are going to wear out on a 5,800 lbs AWD 2024 Dodge Charger.
  • Luke42 I tried FSD for a month in December 2022 on my Model Y and wasn’t impressed.The building-blocks were amazing but sum of the all of those amazing parts was about as useful as Honda Sensing in terms of reducing the driver’s workload.I have a list of fixes I need to see in Autopilot before I blow another $200 renting FSD. But I will try it for free for a month.I would love it if FSD v12 lived up to the hype and my mind were changed. But I have no reason to believe I might be wrong at this point, based on the reviews I’ve read so far. [shrug]. I’m sure I’ll have more to say about it once I get to test it.
  • FormerFF We bought three new and one used car last year, so we won't be visiting any showrooms this year unless a meteor hits one of them. Sorry to hear that Mini has terminated the manual transmission, a Mini could be a fun car to drive with a stick.It appears that 2025 is going to see a significant decrease in the number of models that can be had with a stick. The used car we bought is a Mk 7 GTI with a six speed manual, and my younger daughter and I are enjoying it quite a lot. We'll be hanging on to it for many years.
  • Oberkanone Where is the value here? Magna is assembling the vehicles. The IP is not novel. Just buy the IP at bankruptcy stage for next to nothing.
  • Jalop1991 what, no Turbo trim?
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