A Tesla Model S converted into a police car by Denver PD

Tesla’s all-electric Model S is becoming increasingly popular with police departments around the world. The Los Angeles Police Department and Luxembourg police are both using the vehicle, and Scotland Yard is also considering it.

Now we learn that Denver PD converted a Model S into a police car. 

While the LAPD is testing the Model S as a ‘high-pursuit’ police cruiser because of its performance and range, most police department using EVs, including the Model S, are using them for “community outreach” and for administrative employees.

Denver’s police department is doing the same.

We reached out to them when the car was first spotted and they responded:

“We have several cars that we use for community outreach and events (vintage police cars, etc.), and the pictured Tesla will be used for that same purpose.”

Nonetheless, they converted the vehicle into a regular police car with the sirens and lights. Redditor /u/modes22 spotted it yesterday:

Starting at $69,000, the Model S is definitively on the expensive side for a police car, but when you consider that those vehicles are generally gas guzzlers that are on the road more often than the average car, it starts to make sense.

After accounting for gas savings and maintenance, some are able to make sense of the economics.

For example, the Luxembourg police bought two of Model S sedans as patrol cars and they expect savings. Though the country is ideal for electric cars since it’s only 82 km (51 miles) long and 57 km (35 miles) wide. As for speed and acceleration, virtually all of the latest versions of Tesla’s Model S are now quicker and faster than conventional police cars, so it shouldn’t be a problem.

I wouldn’t be surprised to start seeing more police departments soon updating their fleets with more electric cars, especially as some less expensive models are coming to market.

What upcoming EV do you think would make for a good police car? Let us know in the comment section below.