NYPD considering purchase of 250 Teslas

The New York Police Department (NYPD) is considering purchasing 250 Tesla vehicles to add to its fleet.

Bloomberg reported on Wednesday that the NYPD is contemplating buying 250 fully electric Model 3 sedans from Tesla at a price of $51,940 per car. The total contract could reportedly cost roughly $12.4 million.

Bloomberg cited a draft of the procurement contract, which it said it viewed at city offices on Wednesday.

The potential contract for procuring the Tesla vehicles is set to be deliberated over during a public hearing held by the city’s administrative services department on Thursday, according to a notice from the department.

The possible purchase of Tesla vehicles by the NYPD marks a significant move, as the department is the largest in the nation, with nearly 36,000 uniformed officers and 9,000 vehicles, Bloomberg reported.

It also comes as governments on the federal and local levels are looking to transition from using conventional vehicles to electric ones in order to achieve climate-related aspirations, according to Bloomberg.

Officials reportedly believe that the cars will require less maintenance costs and also help save fuel compared to internal combustion engines, per Bloomberg.

The police department in Fremont, Calif., already has two Tesla vehicles, a Model S and a Model Y, in its fleet, according to Bloomberg. The department’s use of the electric vehicles is part of a pilot program.

In a November 2020 report, the City of Fremont Police Department said the Texas Model S 85 vehicle “met or exceeded expectations often demonstrating superior performance when compared to gas-powered police vehicles.”

“Due to the vehicle’s performance, Police Officers reported an enhanced feeling of safety and control when responding to emergency calls for service,” the report added.

The report also said police officers reported a drop in anxiety and stress levels when responding to emergency calls because there were fewer engine noises, and that they said radio communication was improved because there was less background engine noise.