Baltimore is investing up to $5 million in Teslas for its municipal fleet. This purchase marks the first time Baltimore City will integrate Tesla vehicles into its fleet, and is part of the city’s goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2045.
The decision to purchase Teslas was made by Baltimore’s Board of Estimates during a recent meeting, following a competitive bidding process. The city’s Department of General Services (DGS) issued a request for bids earlier this year, seeking to purchase electric passenger vehicles. Tesla was one of the two companies that responded, with the other being Waldorf Ford, which proposed the city purchase the Mustang Mach-E.
However, Tesla’s bid for the Model 3 and Model Y won out, as the city deemed these vehicles better suited for its administrative needs, reports BaltimoreFishBowl.
The contract allows Baltimore to purchase both the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y, with starting prices for the city set at $33,990 and $31,490, respectively. These models will be used primarily as administrative vehicles across multiple city departments.
While the exact number of Teslas to be purchased remains undetermined, the contract could see the city acquiring between 147 and 158 vehicles, depending on the mix of chosen configurations.
The city is also working on building out charging infrastructure to support its growing EV fleet. Several Level 2 chargers have already been installed at the Central Garage and is planning to add more, including a DC fast charger, to accommodate the increasing number of EVs owned by the city.
While Baltimore’s move to purchase Teslas represents a significant win for the company, it also highlights the growing trend of municipalities adopting electric vehicles. Recently South Pasadena switched over their entire police vehicle fleet to Teslas.
