Last year, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti announced a commitment to convert the city’s vehicle fleet to electric vehicles. He announced that several of the city’s department will lease or acquire hundreds of all-electric (BEVs) and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) vehicles with a significant number going to the police department (LAPD).
Today we learn that BMW won its bid on an LAPD contract to supply 100 all-electric BMW i3 vehicles.
Interestingly, we reported last month that the LAPD was testing the Tesla Model S as a ‘high-pursuit’ police cruiser. Today’s announcement doesn’t mean that this program is dead since the BMW i3’s will not be used as pursuit vehicles, but “as transportation vehicles for officers and in community outreach initiatives”.
BMW confirmed that they will not be used as emergency vehicles.
Mayor Garcetti commented on the announcement:
“We should be thinking green in everything we do — and these new EVs show how local government can lead. Our sustainability plan pushes L.A. to speed adoption of greener practices and technologies, which also save money and resources.”
The BMW i3 police cars have already started hitting the streets of Los Angeles this spring “badged with an LAPD insignia.” Greenlots, a provider of EV charging solutions, will supply 100 Level 2 chargers and four DC fast chargers to LAPD in order to support its new fleet.
Ludwig Willisch, President and CEO of BMW of North America, also commented on the announcement:
“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,”
The automaker confirmed that it will integrate its software data system with the LAPD’s fleet management system. It will even design a new web tool especially for the LAPD to track their fleet in “near real-time, contributing to improved deployment, utilization, and the efficient charging of their fleet of BMW i3s.”
A BMW i3 with a 22 kWh pack can travel up to about 80 miles on a single charge, while the new version with the upgraded 33 kWh battery pack can travel up to 114 miles.
Gallery courtesy of BMW:
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- Los Angeles City Mayor Eric Garcetti and Los Angeles Police Department Chief Charlie Beck announce a year long test of a BMW i3 electric vehicle at a City of Los Angeles press conference in Los Angeles, Sept. 11, 2015. Photo by Danny Moloshok/Newscast
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- Los Angeles City Mayor Eric Garcetti and Los Angeles Police Department Chief Charlie Beck announce a year long test of a BMW i3 electric vehicle at a City of Los Angeles press conference in Los Angeles, Sept. 11, 2015. Photo by Danny Moloshok/Newscast
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- Los Angeles City Mayor Eric Garcetti and Los Angeles Police Department Chief Charlie Beck announce a year long test of a BMW i3 electric vehicle at a City of Los Angeles press conference in Los Angeles, Sept. 11, 2015. Photo by Danny Moloshok/Newscast
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- Los Angeles City Mayor Eric Garcetti and Los Angeles Police Department Chief Charlie Beck announce a year long test of a BMW i3 electric vehicle at a City of Los Angeles press conference in Los Angeles, Sept. 11, 2015. Photo by Danny Moloshok/Newscast
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- Los Angeles City Mayor Eric Garcetti and Los Angeles Police Department Chief Charlie Beck announce a year long test of a BMW i3 electric vehicle at a City of Los Angeles press conference in Los Angeles, Sept. 11, 2015. Photo by Danny Moloshok/Newscast
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- Los Angeles City Mayor Eric Garcetti and Los Angeles Police Department Chief Charlie Beck announce a year long test of a BMW i3 electric vehicle at a City of Los Angeles press conference in Los Angeles, Sept. 11, 2015. Photo by Danny Moloshok/Newscast
The Bavarian Police are now also using all-electric BMW i3’s as police vehicles [Picture Gallery]
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