Boulder County Sheriff Tests Tesla As Patrol Car

BOULDER COUNTY, CO — The Boulder County Sheriff's Office is joining law enforcement agencies across the country in testing Tesla as its next patrol vehicle provider.

With support from Boulder County commissioners, the sheriff's office is using a 2021 Tesla Model Y Long Range AWD to see if it saves on fuel and maintenance costs, the office said.

"We are keenly aware that many people perceive Tesla vehicles as 'luxury vehicles,' and while that is true for a large segment of their product line, Tesla’s mission has been the proliferation of electric vehicles (EVs) into the mainstream market," the sheriff's office said in a news release.

"As such, Tesla vehicle prices have become much more affordable in recent years. Additionally, the specifications are comparable to the current Ford Police Interceptor (PI) SUVs currently in use for patrol, while providing exceptional safety, performance and reliability."

The average cost of a 2021 Ford PI SUV starts at around $42,000, and the cost of a 2021 Tesla Model Y Long Range AWD starts around $53,190, according to multiple vehicle reports.

"Research and anecdotal evidence shows that the initial cost difference is made up within 6-18 months due to the significantly lower operating and ownership costs of the Tesla," the sheriff's news release read.

"Due to the simplicity of design and lack of moving parts, the Tesla is also expected to have a much longer service life than its internal combustion engine (ICE) counterparts."

Patrol cars spend a lot of time idling, suddenly starting or stopping — actions that quickly wear out the vehicle and use up a lot of fossil fuel, the office said.

"Our data shows that over the average life of a patrol vehicle (5yrs/105,000mi), the Ford Police Interceptor’s fuel and maintenance costs equate to roughly $0.187 per mile driven, while the Tesla Model Y’s operating and maintenance costs equate to roughly $0.029 per mile driven," the release read.

"That equates to roughly $19,635 in fuel and maintenance costs for the Ford Police Interceptor SUV compared to only $3,045 for the Tesla Model Y."

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A portion of the vehicle’s charging will be offset by electricity from solar panels, and the office said it plans to recycle more than 90 percent of the Tesla model's battery components once it reaches the end of its service life, which is expected to be "well over 500,000 miles," the sheriff's office said.

The new Tesla patrol car will be used primarily for traffic enforcement, but it will be "rigorously tested to examine its potential for other applications," the office said.

The sheriff's office has launched a webpage dedicated to comparing patrol car model costs.