Tesla Model S - As a Police Car?

SabrToothSqrl · Aug 3, 2015

So, I'm on another forum and we are talking about squeaky brakes in a patrol car, and my personal ideals aside; what about a Model S cop car?

(I assume) the patrol car starts and ends it's shift at the police station (perfect charge point, may even have 480v), you could sneak up on criminal activity.

You don't have to leave it idling all day (or ever) to get heat or A/C. You can 0-60 in 3.0, it's AWD, and has a 5.4 crash rating!

What about the Model S (or soon X) isn't a perfect use case for a cop car?

Can anyone do up some graphics of a Model S as a police car? Do police cars go over 250 miles/day? If they did, can they not radio for backup?

Between fuel savings, oil changes, and other obsolete crap, not to mention the cool factor, why not?!

Saghost · Aug 3, 2015

SabrToothSqrl said:
So, I'm on another forum and we are talking about squeaky brakes in a patrol car, and my personal ideals aside; what about a Model S cop car?

(I assume) the patrol car starts and ends it's shift at the police station (perfect charge point, may even have 480v), you could sneak up on criminal activity.

You don't have to leave it idling all day (or ever) to get heat or A/C. You can 0-60 in 3.0, it's AWD, and has a 5.4 crash rating!

What about the Model S (or soon X) isn't a perfect use case for a cop car?

Can anyone do up some graphics of a Model S as a police car? Do police cars go over 250 miles/day? If they did, can they not radio for backup?

Between fuel savings, oil changes, and other obsolete crap, not to mention the cool factor, why not?!

For a proper patrol car, you really want more length in the rear seat area, and a fixed rear seat with an actual trunk rather than a hatchback. You need enough room to easily get uncooperative handcuffed people into the backseat *after* installing a barrier between the seats, and a way to block them out of the trunk space (though a lot of the traditional trunk items could probably go in the Frunk instead.)

We don't know a whole lot about the X yet, but from what we do know it would probably be a lot more suitable in stock form - and could pretty easily be modified to be very suitable, with a single fixed rear bench and divider behind it. The huge Falcon Door opening would certainly make life easier...

Drucifer · Aug 3, 2015

A lot of old police cars become taxis in their next life. The Model S would be excellent there too, after the police were done with them.

Just make sure the police stay away from the 21" rims. They would be destroyed in a few days of police duty. Here's a link to a picture for ya.

http://s1.cdn.autoevolution.com/ima...-car-could-come-to-silicon-valley-70500_1.jpg

3s-a-charm · Aug 3, 2015

Drucifer said:
A lot of old police cars become taxis in their next life. The Model S would be excellent there too, after the police were done with them.

Just make sure the police stay away from the 21" rims. They would be destroyed in a few days of police duty. Here's a link to a picture for ya.

http://s1.cdn.autoevolution.com/ima...-car-could-come-to-silicon-valley-70500_1.jpg

That looks pretty cool!

FlasherZ · Aug 3, 2015

POLICE INTERCEPTOR (repost))
Tesla “Model P” – a compelling case for Model S in Police fleets
tesla police cruisers
Atherton, California city manager wants Model S as Police Cruisers
Model S as a special purpose car

Rockster · Aug 3, 2015

Somewhere on TMC is another thread about this from a few years ago. In the thread someone cited a white paper that a police department drafted, showing that most of the fuel a police car consumes is done so while idling. The Model S would be ideal in that regard, as it uses so little energy while "idling."

Cosmacelf · Aug 3, 2015

There are lots of specialized vehicles that should be electric. At big sporting events, look for the ambulances that are sitting there idling all day. Once prices come down, look for an explosion of battery vehicle types...

joefee · Aug 3, 2015

The P85D could be a great "interceptor" e.g. "catch and detain" NOT a sheriff's car to transport to jail... that car will lag behind a minute or two!

jct_4628 · Aug 3, 2015

Extant_snapshot_00_31_39_[2014_08_28_23_27_23].jpg

Found this while searching custom S pictures.

tkizzy · Aug 3, 2015

Way too luxurious and expensive for cops their job is not to have "cool factor"...only if it's not on tax payer dollars and they buy it themselves. Otherwise model 3s for the Popo... Better yet give them Chevy volts

How often are police actually in need of serious performance?? Most of what they do involves catching motorists off guard or sneaking up on them at highway speeds.

Just a Reader · Aug 4, 2015

joefee said:
The P85D could be a great "interceptor" e.g. "catch and detain" NOT a sheriff's car to transport to jail... that car will lag behind a minute or two!

Sure, and when it gets a dent it costs about 30,000 Dollars to repair and it's six weeks in the shop.

SabrToothSqrl · Aug 4, 2015

If you've ever seen a US cop car up close, I don't think dents are a concern... My friend's car does however had a ballistics panel in the driver's door to stand behind!

rxlawdude · Aug 4, 2015

jct_4628 said:
View attachment 89371

Found this while searching custom S pictures.

I'm guessing this was a seizure from a suspect.

SwedishAdvocate · Aug 5, 2015

Found another pic of the same car. But this time with everyone's by far favorite wheel choice – The Aero Wheels! :wink:

Anyone know where this is?

Source: Blingwheels: The Sheriff's new ride is a Tesla Model S

Edit: Image search points in the direction of this car being a TV/movie prop...

FlasherZ · Sep 11, 2015

Tesla released a pic today of LAPD with a Model S:

Krugerrand · Sep 11, 2015

Snap! It even looks good in police pattern paint. I'm hoping for a short 'test' of said loaned vehicle and a quick 'buy a bunch'.

andrewket · Sep 11, 2015

I wonder how much drag the light bar creates

ludicrousspeed · Sep 11, 2015

I think it's very cool and a definite landmark that an electric vehicle has made its way into the police force. I think it attests to Tesla'a performance and quality that the state spent bought such an expensive car for their force.

However, I'm not sure this is the best look for Tesla's brand perception in the long run. Nobody wants to drive police cars and I think it slightly diminishes the perception around the luxury of the product. What does everybody think?

Krugerrand · Sep 11, 2015

andrewket said:
I wonder how much drag the light bar creates

A bit, but then police cars mostly just sit around at donut shops, right? :wink:

- - - Updated - - -

ludicrousspeed said:
I think it's very cool and a definite landmark that an electric vehicle has made its way into the police force. I think it attests to Tesla'a performance and quality that the state spent bought such an expensive car for their force.

However, I'm not sure this is the best look for Tesla's brand perception in the long run. Nobody wants to drive police cars and I think it slightly diminishes the perception around the luxury of the product. What does everybody think?

The LAPD didn't buy the car, it's on loan for testing purposes.

Lots of people drive makes of cars that have been/are used as police vehicles, Crown Vic, Torino, Mustang, Camaro, Caprice, Taurus, Impala, Charger... Plus Model S is a 'premium' vehicle, not a 'luxury' vehicle. If Tesla can sell fleets of Model S's for police cars, I think it would be awesome for a lot of reasons.

FlasherZ · Sep 11, 2015

I noted in particular the lack of spotlights on the A-pillars and wondered if they were sacrificed so they didn't drag the car down more.

I think this is going to be rare, I really doubt you're going to see huge fleets of Model S's like the Chevy Impala.

That said, I know a lot of Dodge Charger R/T drivers and the topic of them driving police cars doesn't seem to come up too much.

- - - Updated - - -

Here's an article and a link to the announcement:
Breaking: LAPD Adds Tesla Model S P85D And BMW i3 To Police Fleet - Art of Gears

Tesla Model S - As a Police Car?

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