Fremont police to add a new patrol vehicle to its roster: A Tesla Model S

A 2014 Tesla Model S 85 is being outfitted for patrol before being put into use with the Fremont Police Department. A number of items, including sirens and a push bumper, are being added to the vehicle, and Fremont PD decals will be added to its side when it arrives at police headquarters. less A 2014 Tesla Model S 85 is being outfitted for patrol before being put into use with the Fremont Police Department. A number of items, including sirens and a push bumper, are being added to the vehicle, and ... more Photo: Courtesy Fremont Police Department Photo: Courtesy Fremont Police Department Image 1 of / 19 Caption Close Fremont police to add a new patrol vehicle to its roster: A Tesla Model S 1 / 19 Back to Gallery

The Fremont Police Department recently put two new F-150s into its rotation as patrol vehicles, but that won't be the car that turns heads.

Leave that to the station's new Tesla Model S 85.

Fremont police picked up the used 2014 Tesla last year, and is now outfitting the vehicle to meet officer requirements. Among the items being added to the new car are the very-necessary partition cage, sirens and lights, push bumper, ballistic barriers, equipment console and more, the department said in a press release.

The purchase of the electric vehicle is just one part of Fremont's clean technology and smart city initiatives, said Fremont Police Capt. Sean Washington in a statement.

"Given that Fremont Police vehicle fleet is responsible for a total of 980 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually, this program has the potential to eliminate 10 percent of all municipal greenhouse gas emissions," Washington said. Fremont is looking to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent by 2020, with its goals set via a 2005 baseline.

The car will set Fremont PD back just over $65,000, once the modifications are complete, but the department is hoping it will make up for the cost in other ways.

Comparatively, the department said that its Ford Explorers cost about $40,000 to modify. Gas, for instance, can cost about $32,000 during the lifespan of a police vehicle — which is approximately five years — not to mention maintenance, which can cost about $15,000.

The department is hoping that the Tesla will outlive that traditional police car lifespan, while delivering in both a sustainable and overall cost-effective way in the long run.

Fremont PD will be soliciting feedback on the car from officers who drive vehicle, looking at the car's performance, costs, range and use while out in the field. The department told SFGATE that the vehicle won't be in their possession "for a few weeks," but is planning to let the community get a look at the new vehicle once it's deployed.

Other police departments in the United States have purchased Teslas, as the San Jose Mercury reported, but it seems that those vehicles have never made it into patrol. The Los Angeles Police Department purchased a Model S in 2016, which never made it into its rotation of patrol cars; the Denver Police also purchased a Model S, but have relegated it to use for community outreach events.

Read Dianne de Guzman's latest stories and send her news tips at ddeguzman@sfchronicle.com.

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