Electric vehicles are very much seen as the future of the automotive industry, and it seems one Indiana police department is ahead of the curve. This electric car is already saving one police department thousands of dollars, making its police chief very happy indeed.
Splashing Out
Bargersville Police Chief Todd Bertram decided it would actually make sense to splash out on a Tesla Model 3 for his police department. The chief justified the move by crunching the numbers and spending $41,000 on the Tesla. Although it is 40% more expensive than the department’s Dodge Chargers, Bertram figured it would cut the budget significantly. The low maintenance and fuel costs meant that the Model 3 would be paying for itself sooner rather than later.
Ahead of Schedule
The initial report put together by Bertram’s department estimated the Tesla would begin paying for itself after 24 months. However, the car’s returns are already ahead of schedule just 10 months after it was added to the Bargersville Police Department. Even including the initial outlay of installing the Level 2 charger, the Model 3 continues to save the PD money. While other factors such as heating and air conditioning are in play, Bertram certainly isn’t regretting the decision to go electric.
Amazing Savings
Chief Bertram noted in an interview that the savings his department made in just one vehicle could be scaled up. He explained that by replacing his entire fleet of patrol cars with electric cars, his department could save enough to hire two new officers. Those officers would arrive without having to cut any costs other than the type of vehicle Bertram’s police department uses.
The Bargersville Police Department is reportedly planning to release its exact savings later in 2020. It hopes that the amazing figures might encourage more police departments to follow suit and invest in electric patrol vehicles to save money.