The City of Menlo Park, just across the bay from Tesla’s Fremont factory, has been given the green light to purchase three Model Ys for police use.
The Model Y police cruisers will be part of a police patrol decarbonization pilot program, in which the city plans to transition to an all-electric patrol fleet by 2023.
At a Menlo Park City Council meeting on October 26, councilors approved the purchase in a narrow 3-2 vote.
A report by city staff recommended the Long Range Model Y, saying it should be selected for its “size, range and purchase price” against other vehicles like the Volvo XC40 Recharge, Ford Mach-E and VW ID.4.
According to the report, each Model Y will cost the city approximately $115,000 USD, which also covers the necessary conversions to make it suitable for police use.
One of those conversions is to outfit the electric SUV with the B6 ‘Anti-Intrusion Protection Package.’ This adds ballistic protection panels in each front door making them bulletproof against everything from a 9mm handgun to AK-47s and M-16 rifles.
The city is aware they could be in for a long wait, noting in the report the Model Y might not arrive until April 2022, meaning it likely won’t be ready for duty until later that summer.
Tesla Model Y joins Fremont Police Department after successful Model S pilot program [Update]
