Victoria Police introduces electric-powered Tesla to highway patrol fleet
It’s sleek, blue, goes from 0-100km/h in 4.9 seconds and, if you’re not careful, will be roaring up behind you very soon. Check out the new car that’s added extra spark to the Victoria Police highway patrol.
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Victoria’s fastest police car is being unleashed — and it’s powered with electricity.
The Tesla Model X — to be unveiled on Monday — is capable of reaching 100km/h in just 4.9 seconds.
The five-door five-seat SUV will carry out full highway patrol operational duties including pursuits.
Insp Stuart Bailey, among the first officers to drive the all-electric vehicle, told the Herald Sun: “It’s the fastest car in our fleet.”
“This is the first electric car in Australian law enforcement,’’ he said.
“Its performance is exceeding our other highway patrol cars.”
The Model X typically costs between $116,000 and $141,000 but Victoria Police won’t disclose how much it paid because of commercial confidentiality.
The vehicle can travel 550km on a full charge, which takes as little as 45 minutes at rapid charge points, while others take between seven and eight hours.
Tesla is aiming to have supercharge points no more than 150km away from any location in the state.
Technicians are working to integrate Victoria Police’s communication and data systems with the Tesla’s 17-inch display.
It also boasts in-built cameras, “Falcon Wing” upward opening doors, the largest all-glass panoramic windshield in production and has been assessed as the most stable vehicle in the force’s 3300-strong fleet.
It needs servicing only once a year or every 20,000km at a price of $400 — making its overall costs comparable with petrol-powered police cars.
“I can see in the future our entire fleet is electric,’’ Insp Bailey said.
“It’s coming and it’s coming rapidly.
“We’re putting ourselves in a great position so when it does come we’ve done all the research and development and we’re ready for the changeover without affecting our capability.”
The Model X will initially be based in the police regions taking in the Casey, Dandenong, La Trobe, Baw Baw and Wangaratta regions.
Police forces in Europe, Scandinavia and the US are the only others using Tesla vehicles.
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Assistant commissioner Stephen Leane said: “This vehicle is unlike any other Victoria Police has ever had in its fleet and could well be the future of road policing in this state, country and the world.”
Police Minister Lisa Neville said: “This Australian first is about a different way of thinking in road policing — this is another important addition to our fleet and is another tool in our fight to bring down the road toll.”
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