LAPD Chooses BMW I3 Over Tesla Model S
The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) has added 100 fully-electric BMW i3s to its fleet.
The announcement comes less than a month after LAPD Police Administrator Vartan Yegiyan said the Tesla Model S currently isn’t practical enough, suggesting that Tesla’s offering is too expensive to be used as a fleet car. At the time however, it seemed as if Yegiyan was also pointing out that the infrastructure wasn’t good enough to employ EVs in LAPD’s fleet, but that’s clearly not the case now.
The decision comes after a field trial where a BMW i3 was evaluated alongside other EVs, like the Tesla Model S, on the streets of Los Angeles as part of the LAPD’s everyday fleet. According to the German automaker, the i3 was selected due to a combination of EPA rated best-in-class efficiency, reliability and state-of-the-art ConnectedDrive services. Also playing a role in the decision was BMW’s extensive knowledge of charging infrastructure and the availability of a large network of BMW i centers for servicing the fleet in a convenient and cost effective way.
SEE ALSO: LAPD Not Sold on Using the Tesla Model S as a Cop Car
The BMW i3 will serve as the department’s non-emergency fleet vehicles and will be used throughout the department as transportation vehicles for officers and in community outreach initiatives.
The price of the vehicle likely swayed the decision as well, considering the BMW i3 is almost half the price of a Model S.
“The attributes of the BMW i3 position it to excel as the ideal vehicle for municipal organizations. The performance and technical capabilities, such as the BMW i3 ‘s acceleration, and its ConnectedDrive integration, are perfectly suited to transform the future mobility of the Los Angeles Police Department while also reducing their carbon footprint,” said Ludwig Willisch, President and CEO of BMW of North America.
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Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
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BMW greased the wheels that Tesla couldn't afford too.
How American of them. Instead of keeping taxpayer $ in the US, they send it to Germany.