The LAPD just announced that they are going to add 160 electric vehicles and 128 plug-in hybrids. They are leasing multiple Tesla Model S P85D and BMW i3 to add to their fleet. Thoughts?

 

https://twitter.com/LAPDHQ/status/642414777524850688/photo/1?ref_src=twsrc^tfw

Looks nice, its works because LAPD use very little lighting 

interesting choice of car... nice lightabar VALOR. not sure if I kike them or not I like the FPI AND FPIU

Oh look, a $90,000 police car. Maintenance is gonna be expensive as fuck, because it's they're gonna be used and abused like cop cars usually are.

Edited September 11, 201510 yr by BlackJesus1

A sexy ass car, but I don't think it's too necessary for police unless it's highway patrol.

Those cars are not going to hold up to police abuse, since they aren't designed for police work. They lack heavy duty brakes, heavy duty suspension, transmission coolers, oil coolers, and power steering coolers (based on assumption). 

Cost of maintenance will likely be extremely high, and the fact that the Tesla and BMW are extremely expensive and parts are limited wont help. I have no idea what these guys are smoking, no offense. If they're going to be environmentally friendly, they should follow the NYPD's footsteps and at least try using some Hybrid Fusions, which have surprisingly held up well to police work, and Nissan Altima hybrids. Not $90,000 Tesla's and high end, overpriced BMW crossovers. 

I wonder if they're still going to keep phasing in Ford Explorers, Tauruses, and V6 Chargers? Since these vehicles are somewhat eco-friendly in comparison to the gas hungry Crown Victoria's they still have making up 70% of their fleet. This is a disgraceful waste of taxpayer money. 

Edited September 11, 201510 yr by Original Light

Cost of maintenance will likely be extremely high, and the fact that the Tesla and BMW are extremely expensive and parts are limited wont help. I have no idea what these guys are smoking, no offense. If they're going to be environmentally friendly, they should follow the NYPD's footsteps and at least try using some Hybrid Fusions, which have surprisingly held up well to police work, and Nissan Altima hybrids. Not $90,000 Tesla's and high end, overpriced BMW crossovers. 

I wonder if they're still going to keep phasing in Ford Explorers, Tauruses, and V6 Chargers? Since these vehicles are somewhat eco-friendly in comparison to the gas hungry Crown Victoria's they still have making up 70% of their fleet. This is a disgraceful waste of taxpayer money. 

It's the West Coast. Needs to be shiny.

Oh look, a $90,000 police car. Maintenance is gonna be expensive as fuck, because it's they're gonna be used and abused like cop cars usually are.

Teslas actually have very little maintenance. The only real maintenance on those are airing up tires, and changing windshield washer fluid. In the long run, Tesla actually might be cheaper.

Those cars are not going to hold up to police abuse, since they aren't designed for police work. They lack heavy duty brakes, heavy duty suspension, transmission coolers, oil coolers, and power steering coolers (based on assumption). 

Cost of maintenance will likely be extremely high, and the fact that the Tesla and BMW are extremely expensive and parts are limited wont help. I have no idea what these guys are smoking, no offense. If they're going to be environmentally friendly, they should follow the NYPD's footsteps and at least try using some Hybrid Fusions, which have surprisingly held up well to police work, and Nissan Altima hybrids. Not $90,000 Tesla's and high end, overpriced BMW crossovers. 

I wonder if they're still going to keep phasing in Ford Explorers, Tauruses, and V6 Chargers? Since these vehicles are somewhat eco-friendly in comparison to the gas hungry Crown Victoria's they still have making up 70% of their fleet. This is a disgraceful waste of taxpayer money. 

Tesla is made out of aluminum which would hold up well to crashes and such, plus the brakes are better than any Crown Vic or FPI. The suspension is very strong on the Model S and plus it doesn't need any power steering coolers. It doesn't use oil, or have a transmission.

Tesla and electric cars in general have little maintenance, if any refilling tires or changing windshield washer fluid. Furthermore, Tesla parts aren't that limited and are not as expensive as you would think.

Using Altima Hybrids are out of the question since those are phased out not to mention very unstable for heavy-duty police work compared to a Tesla. The reason why NYPD doesn't have many problems with the Altima and Fusion is because they don't have a lot of pursuits in New York. Also, why should LAPD follow NYPD by buying hybrid cars as opposed to electric for their fleet. Hybrid cars just delay the inevitable; gasoline WILL run out eventually.

In short, this is not a disgrace at all. If anything, electric police cars make way more sense than gasoline police cars whether or not you want to accept that gasoline cars are obsolete compared to electric and will be no more in less than 100 years. I support renewable fuels for cars.

Edited September 13, 201510 yr by M67v

In short, this is not a disgrace at all. If anything, electric police cars make way more sense than gasoline police cars whether or not you want to accept that gasoline cars are obsolete compared to electric and will be no more in less than 100 years. I support renewable fuels for cars.

That's nice and all, but electric cars have low autonomy compared to regular cars (502km for the Tesla Model S, which is quite low considering that even with my car which is not the best and most expensive one, I can reach up to 750km with a full tank). Without talking about the fact that I highly doubt any officer will want to do any pit maneuver or anything like that with a 90k$ car, so they'll do what? Stick up with the suspect? Regular cars can do that already. Oh, and did I mention that electric cars need to be recharged? 40 minutes to get back up to 80% of the battery. FORTY minutes. Way too long, when you compare the few minutes needed to refill a gas tank. Also, ectricity is not for free, and its price is actually quite high lately.

Don't get me wrong, the car looks nice and all, for a private usage, and I'm all for saving the environment by starting to replace regular cars with hybrid/electric ones. But it's clearly not made for police duty, period.

Teslas actually have very little maintenance. The only real maintenance on those are airing up tires, and changing windshield washer fluid. In the long run, Tesla actually might be cheaper.

Tesla is made out of aluminum which would hold up well to crashes and such, plus the brakes are better than any Crown Vic or FPI. The suspension is very strong on the Model S and plus it doesn't need any power steering coolers. It doesn't use oil, or have a transmission.

Tesla and electric cars in general have little maintenance, if any refilling tires or changing windshield washer fluid. Furthermore, Tesla parts aren't that limited and are not as expensive as you would think.

Using Altima Hybrids are out of the question since those are phased out not to mention very unstable for heavy-duty police work compared to a Tesla. The reason why NYPD doesn't have many problems with the Altima and Fusion is because they don't have a lot of pursuits in New York. Also, why should LAPD follow NYPD by buying hybrid cars as opposed to electric for their fleet. Hybrid cars just delay the inevitable; gasoline WILL run out eventually.

In short, this is not a disgrace at all. If anything, electric police cars make way more sense than gasoline police cars whether or not you want to accept that gasoline cars are obsolete compared to electric and will be no more in less than 100 years. I support renewable fuels for cars.

Sure, but it also lacks wiring prep for police equipment, rubber floor material, and I doubt any aftermarket companies have developed partitions, push bars, and other equipment to fit it due to its rarity. It seems like a nice car for someone with more money than brains, but not for a police vehicle. CVPI's, Tauruses, and Explorers can be kept running with duct tape and a hammer. I view them as disposable cars. You can beat on them all day and they keep coming back for more, but most likely not this car. I'm not sure about how reliable it will be in the long run. I'm not saying an electric vehicle can't go 400,000 miles like some gasoline vehicles have been known to do, like Ford's livestock, specifically (the CVPI), but electric cars are a whole different breed. We simply haven't mastered them yet as we have with gasoline vehicles. 
When gas cars first came out, specifically the old carburetor engines, those were usually unreliable. But now we've mastered gas engines, and they're at the peek of their efficiency, power output, and general reliability. We can now have a 4 cylinder car make more power than an 8 cylinder used to (for example, the new 4 cylinder Mustang makes 305 HP). 

The gasoline engine will still be around for a very long time. You can't beat cubic inches and general displacement for longevity, reliability, and ease of cost. As of now, an electric police car does not make any sense. Not until they're more developed and our battery capabilities are improved. Also, I highly doubt large trucks, such as the F-350, will ever have an all electric powertrain. At least not for a very long time. 

Edited September 13, 201510 yr by Original Light

If they go the NYPD route with they hybrids, then it will most likely be cost effective in the long run. But so far they picked some of the most expensive electric cars as their poster boys for this.

I just looked at the 5 year maintenance cost for a Ford Fusion vs a BMW i3. The Ford Fusion is a couple hundred bucks more of overall maintenance and the I3 claims $0 maintence for the first 2 years. Once you put that BMW in constant police use, those 2 years will no longer be free. The cost of BMW parts vs Ford parts, will make it a bitch to maintain, plus the Fusion is half the price. I want to see what else their leasing, because Teslas and BMWs do not sound cost effect at all.

And look up these repair stories on Tesla's. I don't know if it only applies to citizens, but simple and cheap repairs seem to be 8k+ because of the aluminum body. http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1096220_tesla-model-s-aluminum-body-why-repair-costs-are-higher

Sure, but it also lacks wiring prep for police equipment, rubber floor material, and I doubt any aftermarket companies have developed partitions, push bars, and other equipment to fit it due to its rarity. It seems like a nice car for someone with more money than brains, but not for a police vehicle. CVPI's, Tauruses, and Explorers can be kept running with duct tape and a hammer. I view them as disposable cars. You can beat on them all day and they keep coming back for more, but most likely not this car. I'm not sure about how reliable it will be in the long run. I'm not saying an electric vehicle can't go 400,000 miles like some gasoline vehicles have been known to do, like Ford's livestock, specifically (the CVPI), but electric cars are a whole different breed. We simply haven't mastered them yet as we have with gasoline vehicles. 
When gas cars first came out, specifically the old carburetor engines, those were usually unreliable. But now we've mastered gas engines, and they're at the peek of their efficiency, power output, and general reliability. We can now have a 4 cylinder car make more power than an 8 cylinder used to (for example, the new 4 cylinder Mustang makes 305 HP). 

The gasoline engine will still be around for a very long time. You can't beat cubic inches and general displacement for longevity, reliability, and ease of cost. As of now, an electric police car does not make any sense. Not until they're more developed and our battery capabilities are improved. Also, I highly doubt large trucks, such as the F-350, will ever have an all electric powertrain. At least not for a very long time. 

If they go the NYPD route with they hybrids, then it will most likely be cost effective in the long run. But so far they picked some of the most expensive electric cars as their poster boys for this.

I just looked at the 5 year maintenance cost for a Ford Fusion vs a BMW i3. The Ford Fusion is a couple hundred bucks more of overall maintenance and the I3 claims $0 maintence for the first 2 years. Once you put that BMW in constant police use, those 2 years will no longer be free. The cost of BMW parts vs Ford parts, will make it a bitch to maintain, plus the Fusion is half the price. I want to see what else their leasing, because Teslas and BMWs do not sound cost effect at all.

And look up these repair stories on Tesla's. I don't know if it only applies to citizens, but simple and cheap repairs seem to be 8k+ because of the aluminum body. http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1096220_tesla-model-s-aluminum-body-why-repair-costs-are-higher

Fair enough.

Oh, and did I mention that electric cars need to be recharged? 40 minutes to get back up to 80% of the battery. FORTY minutes. Way too long, when you compare the few minutes needed to refill a gas tank. Also, ectricity is not for free, and its price is actually quite high lately.

*electricity

Tesla superchargers (which refill half the battery in 30 minutes) are absolutely free of charge, and they are quite common in California. When officers are on a lunch break, this will be a perfect time to charge the car since lunch breaks aren't short. In the near future, Tesla will have battery swap stations that can replace a dead battery with a fully charger battery in 90 seconds (but they won't be free).

That is one of the ugliest police cars I've ever seen... I don't thing it was a good purchase on their behalf.

That is one of the ugliest police cars I've ever seen... I don't thing it was a good purchase on their behalf.

That made me giggle.
It seems you're judging their purchase because of the looks. 

I'm not the only one that thinks that Tesla looks like a Jaguar, right?

I'm not the only one that thinks that Tesla looks like a Jaguar, right?

You are not alone there.

Those cars are not going to hold up to police abuse, since they aren't designed for police work. They lack heavy duty brakes, heavy duty suspension, transmission coolers, oil coolers, and power steering coolers (based on assumption). 

Cost of maintenance will likely be extremely high, and the fact that the Tesla and BMW are extremely expensive and parts are limited wont help. I have no idea what these guys are smoking, no offense. If they're going to be environmentally friendly, they should follow the NYPD's footsteps and at least try using some Hybrid Fusions, which have surprisingly held up well to police work, and Nissan Altima hybrids. Not $90,000 Tesla's and high end, overpriced BMW crossovers. 

I wonder if they're still going to keep phasing in Ford Explorers, Tauruses, and V6 Chargers? Since these vehicles are somewhat eco-friendly in comparison to the gas hungry Crown Victoria's they still have making up 70% of their fleet. This is a disgraceful waste of taxpayer money. 

One would think that the budgeting for these new vehicles has already been handled by experts. They wouldn't just idiotically go and blow that much cash on new luxury cars unless there was some plan to be able to afford them and their upkeep. Who knows, maybe they got some hella sweet deals with the manufacturers. 

You also have to take in to account that the City of Los Angeles is huge and the LAPD is; therefore, as well. A few hundred cars may sound like a lot, but in actuality, its probably a tiny portion of their actual total fleet.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2015/09/12/bmw-lapd-patrol-car/72139634/

That story provides more info on what is actually happening with the cars. All of them are not even going to just LAPD. Most are going to the LAFD and DWP. Article claims a total of 160 is being used by the three separate entities collectively, but 128 are going to LAFD and DWP (dont know the exact split). So,  that would logically leave 32 vehicles actually going to the LAPD. Its not like their whole fleet is going to be these cars and you are going to see cop clown cars riding around the ghetto any time soon. 

Edited September 14, 201510 yr by BigDeluxe

That made me giggle.It seems you're judging their purchase because of the looks. 

I'm not judging it because of the looks, but everything that a police car needs that Tesla's don't have.

 

 

 

Well, they certainly look a lot better than anything Ford, Chevrolet or Dodge has been producing since 2012, so that's a start.

Looks like a GTA cop car.