The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RMCP) has a goal to shift its on-road light duty fleet to zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs), and its first ZEV, a Tesla Model Y, has received rave reviews after its first year on the job.
Canada national police force added two Tesla Model Ys to its fleet last year. British Columbia’s West Shore detachment and Ontario’s Rideau Hall Response Unit were the first to test the new vehicles in daily operations, and after a year on the road, officers are getting a feel for how they perform as police vehicles in the field for their day-to-day operations.
According to Corporal Didier Thibault, team lead of the Rideau Hall Response Team in Ottawa, the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, noting that the Model Y is always being the first car signed out. It has proven to be so popular that officers often come in early to ensure they can secure the electric SUV for their shift.
“The Tesla seems to be very well liked by the officers. It’s always the first car selected when members sign in. They even come in earlier to get the car.”
Corporal Didier Thibault
Despite many who thought the Model Y would be a bad choice for the RCMP and that it would run out of battery in the middle of a chase, battery life has not been an issue. In fact, during the first year of it being in use, the lowest the battery has gone is 56%, meaning it still could have gone another 250km before needing a charge, with Constable Mark Hall of the West Shore detachment noting the convenience of plugging in after a shift compared to having to stop at a gas station and refuel while on duty.
Charging has been easy; we drive in and plug it in. The lowest an officer got the battery to was about 56 per cent. It’s nice not to have to worry about refuelling on the road.”
Constable Mark Hall, West Shore RCMP
While it is has received rave reviews and been a popular choice among officers, some of the taller and larger officers have noted there is not as much as interior space of the Model Y as their internal combustion engine SUVs.
The Model Y is just the first of several other EVs the RCMP plans to test out for operation feasibility. On order are a Ford Mustang Mach-E, F-150 Lightning, and Chevrolet Blazer EV PPV (Police Pursuit Vehicle), all of which are expected to be on the road in 2024.
