LAPD Gains A Tesla Model S And BMW i3 To Fight Crime And Save The Earth At The Same Time

The Los Angeles Police Department now has a Tesla Model S P85D and BMW i3 in its fleet to determine how the former will fare as a police vehicle as well as the latter for street duty.

We would say the Model S P85D is perfect for chasing after bad guys thanks to its dual electric motors (one at the front and another at the rear). A combined total output of 691hp and 930Nm of torque means, unless the baddie is in a vehicle that is capable of accelerating to 100 km/h from a standstill quicker than 3.2 seconds, they don’t stand a chance. Oh, the P85D has a top speed of 250 km/h as well for good measure. Range anxiety is also not a concern as the range on the Tesla is claimed to be around 474km.

On the other hand, the BMW i3 won’t be doing the heavy pursuit work like its Tesla colleague, being more as a street patrol car with a claimed NEDC range of 190km, with a 168hp electric motor providing drive.

Los Angeles Mayor, Eric Garcetti, announced the city’s commitment to lease 160 pure battery EV vehicles with the Los Angeles Police, Fire, General Services, and Water and Power departments benefiting from the move. In addition, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) and the General Services Department will lease an additional 128 plug-in hybrid electric vehicles.

“Today, we take another step toward becoming the most sustainable city in America,” said Mayor Garcetti. “This year, Los Angeles will become home to the largest city-owned fleet of pure battery electric vehicles anywhere in the country, and we will save taxpayer dollars along the way.”