Summary
- South Pasadena Police Department becomes the first law enforcement agency in the US to replace its gasoline-powered vehicles with electric vehicles
- The transition reflects the city’s vision of a sustainable future and is supported by the City Council
- Regional air quality officials applaud the switch to zero-emission vehicles
- The move signifies a paradigm shift for police organizations towards electric vehicles
- Charging infrastructure was a key component of the project, with 34 chargers installed at South Pasadena City Hall in partnership with Southern California Edison
Article
The South Pasadena Police Department recently made history by becoming the first law enforcement agency in the nation to completely replace its gasoline-powered vehicles with nonpolluting electric vehicles. The city’s fleet of 20 new Teslas will rely on a bank of electric vehicle chargers at South Pasadena City Hall, in addition to a solar-powered system with battery storage for critical power resilience during outages. This transition reflects the city’s commitment to a sustainable future and has received praise from regional air quality officials.
The shift to electric vehicles by the South Pasadena Police Department represents a paradigm shift in law enforcement, as many agencies have been hesitant to make the switch due to concerns about range, grid reliability, and the newness of the technology. However, the city’s Police Chief, Brian Solinsky, believes that transitioning to electric cars offers a safer and more cost-effective option for officers and staff. The move is expected to save on energy and maintenance costs, while also improving service levels for the community.
To support the transition to electric vehicles, the City of South Pasadena worked with partners, including Enterprise Fleet Management, to acquire the necessary Tesla vehicles. Up-fitting for patrol and administrative duties was done through Unplugged Performance’s UP.FIT division, ensuring that the cars meet the required safety standards for policing. Additionally, the visual presentation of the new fleet was enhanced by Anyone™ Collective to match its cutting-edge capabilities.
Charging infrastructure was a key component of the project, with 34 chargers installed at South Pasadena City Hall. Southern California Edison provided support through its Charge Ready program to upgrade the local distribution system and install underground wiring for the chargers. The city’s move to electric vehicles is part of a broader effort to improve air quality and reduce harmful emissions, particularly in the Los Angeles area which still has some of the unhealthiest air in the nation.
In addition to the environmental benefits of transitioning to electric vehicles, the use of EVs by the South Pasadena Police Department will also help minimize emissions from police vehicles, which tend to idle more than other vehicles during traffic stops and emergency responses. The city’s commitment to sustainability and innovation is further demonstrated by the incorporation of renewable solar and battery energy storage systems at City Hall, providing resilience during power outages and contributing to grid optimization.
While the electrification project came at a net expense of $1.85 million for the city, more than half of the cost was covered by project partners, including funding from the Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction Review Committee and work conducted by Southern California Edison. The project also received support from Clean Power Alliance’s Power Ready Program for the installation of the solar and battery energy storage system. Moving forward, the city will continue to monitor costs and savings using Standard Fleet’s advanced software to manage their electric police fleet effectively.
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