The Tesla Model Y is becoming the new police vehicle of choice. The Seaside Police Department in California will soon be adding two of the electric SUVs to their fleet.
The addition of the electric vehicles (EVs) was approved in a 4-1 vote by Seaside City Council Thursday night. The news was later shared by Seaside Police Chief Abdul D Pridgen, who took to Twitter to show his excitement for the department’s green future.
Going green! Council approved the purchase of 5 environmentally friendly patrol cars: 2 @Tesla Model Ys and 3 @Ford Interceptor Hybrids. The Tesla’s are less expensive than gas-powered cars over a 5-yr period & won’t emit 11,000 lbs of CO2/yr! #Leadership #GoingGreen pic.twitter.com/96jrUwzptZ
— Chief Abdul D Pridgen (@AbdulPridgen) February 5, 2021
According to Prigden, the typical Seaside police vehicle averages just 26 miles, more than enough for the Long Range Model Y’s with 326 miles (524km) of range.
“There aren’t very many departments that are deploying electric vehicles and we wanted to be at the forefront of the movement to be more environmentally conscious,” Pridgen told KION News.
In total, $354,000 USD will be spent on the purchase, which also includes three Ford Interceptor Hybrids, and Wall Connectors to charge the Tesla’s.
Seaside, located just east of Monterey, California, is the latest police department that is going green with Tesla Model Y’s. Last year Spokane bought four of the electric SUV’s, while the Hastings-on-Hudson Police Department in Westchester, New York became the first to add a Tesla Model Y to its fleet of patrol cars in December.
