South Pasadena became the first city in the nation on Monday to unveil an all-electric fleet of police patrol vehicles.
The city has replaced 100% of its patrol cars with Tesla EVs. Although other cities have swapped traditional patrol cars for electric ones, South Pasadena is the first to transform its entire fleet.
“We will have a 21st Century police force that is safe, clean and saves taxpayer dollars,” South Pasadena Mayor Evelyn Zneimer said in a news release.
The net cost to the city is $1.85 million. Over half the cost is being covered by energy providers Southern California Edison, the Clean Power Alliance, and the Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction Review Committee. The city is expected to save $4,000 annually per vehicle on energy costs.