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California police aren't loving their Tesla cop cars

techcrunch.com

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Re: California police aren't loving their Tesla cop cars

#21

Post by Closi »

bstsb wrote: post #10

this seems like they haven't done their research at all - i find it surprising that they even thought a Model 3 would be a good police vehicle considering its dimensions. perhaps a better alternative is picking one of the many other EVs that are based on a ICE framework, which i presume would be much easier to modify as required?

Totally agree - this story is only really interesting because it is Tesla, and it seems like they could have worked out that they wouldn't be suitable ahead of time. But equally this looks like a trial and maybe they just had to do the trial to dismiss it as a silly option.

It would be the same if some police force decided to purchase BMW Mini's, spent $100k retrofitting each for police work, and then complained that they were too small after the fact.

Total own goal!

Re: California police aren't loving their Tesla cop cars

#22

Post by Closi »

armitron wrote: post #5

One wonders what the point of this article is besides “we fucked up by choosing something that we should have known did not fit the constraints we had”.

"Now we have dismissed Tesla, we have now decided to purchase tiny clown cars, as we could squeeze many police and suspects in each car"

2 months later

"We have now found that clown cars actually don't go fast enough, as they are only designed to travel at 2-3 miles per hour in a circus ring. Also they are not as big internally as you might think. We are now investing in a drag racing car that will be retro-fit for police work."

Re: California police aren't loving their Tesla cop cars

#23

Post by starfezzy »

bstsb wrote: post #10

this seems like they haven't done their research at all - i find it surprising that they even thought a Model 3 would be a good police vehicle considering its dimensions. perhaps a better alternative is picking one of the many other EVs that are based on a ICE framework, which i presume would be much easier to modify as required?

All of the complaints were applicable to other EVs, or else a problem of poor planning rather than a problem of Teslas specifically. For example, choosing the small model then complaining that it’s small, or failing to install chargers in their lot then complaining they don’t have chargers in their lot.

They mentioned that other brands weren’t even an option to due to various reasons, so it’s weird that they framed it as a hit piece on Tesla rather than a failure of the EV market.

The piece ends with the F-150 Lightning portrayed as the savior (in a department that had the foresight to install chargers in their lot), but they don’t draw attention to the fact it has most of the same issues cited as complaints in the Tesla section (need to use chargers on long-distance road trips, can’t hide behind an engine block).

The linked article also doesn’t mention any of the positives cited in the article that it’s referencing.

But, you know, any opportunity to shit on something related to Elon Musk…

Re: California police aren't loving their Tesla cop cars

#24

Post by saagarjha »

fragmede wrote: post #11
kelnos wrote: post #4

Article is pretty light on content, and links to something quite more substantial: https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/california-switch-ele...

that's a much better link. the F150 Lightning has much more going for it as a police EV.

I don’t really want cops to have massive trucks.

Re: California police aren't loving their Tesla cop cars

#26

Post by bravetraveler »

saagarjha wrote: post #24
fragmede wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

that's a much better link. the F150 Lightning has much more going for it as a police EV.

I don’t really want cops to have massive trucks.

They, uh, get surplus military equipment. Don't worry though, comms are removed. Eyeroll.jpg

Re: California police aren't loving their Tesla cop cars

#27

Post by stavros »

mglz wrote: post #9

> say a reliance on unsecured charging stations makes officers vulnerable when it comes to transporting suspects long distances; and note that in a firefight, police are taught to hide behind a car’s engine block I am a diehard EV proponent, but it's important to admit that there are places where EVs are not the right solution. Especially in vehicles which take part in emergency response, the high energy density of f…

It doesn't really look like it? It looks like there was only one case in however many years this officer has worked that they've needed the extra range. If nothing else, they can have one IC car for when long-term trips need to happen.

The rest of the issues sound like Tesla issues, rather than EV issues.

Re: California police aren't loving their Tesla cop cars

#30

Post by schiffern »

bravetraveler wrote: post #26
saagarjha wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don’t really want cops to have massive trucks.

They, uh, get surplus military equipment. Don't worry though, comms are removed. Eyeroll.jpg

I don't really want them to have that either.
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