Skip to main content

Can’t beat ’em? Join ’em: California police considering Tesla Model S cop cars

There is a town in California so wealthy that even the cops are getting Teslas.

The town of Atherton is the bedroom community for Silicon Valley. The average home price is $6.7 million and 15 percent of drivers have a Tesla Model S. 

Recommended Videos

But that’s not enough for this high-tech Pleasantville. City Manager George Rodericks told the San Jose Mercury News that he would like to see Atherton cops in Teslas, too. 

On the face of it, this seems like a vanity project by a town going for the smuggest community in America. As an automotive journalist, however, it’s my job to take these things seriously. So on with the analysis!

The Tesla S definitely has some things going for it as a police cruiser.

For starters, it would be just plain cool. “People” like Robocop, Judge Dredd, and whatever Sly Stalone’s character from Demolition Man was called, would look perfect behind the wheel of a Tesla cop car.

With 415 horsepower and a 0-60 time of 4.5 seconds in the top-end performance model, the Model S is fast enough to catch just about anyone who doesn’t have a Ferrari. But, from the sound of it, that might be another 15 percent of Atherton residents.

Another reason the Model S would be ideal for police pursuits is its safety rating. Ignoring the recent string of Model S fires, the Tesla could help curb the many police deaths that happen at the wheel.

As an EV, the Tesla has some unique benefits to offer. It is very quiet, which is good both for occupant stress and sneaking up on Snidely Whiplash when he is tying damsels to train tracks. And of course the Model S’ zero emissions motoring is just as good for cops as it is for everyone else.

Unfortunately, there are some pretty big minuses, too. The biggest is price. The most basic Tesla S costs $70,000. Options and police add-ons are likely to make this electric beast close to twice as expensive as the leading cop car competitor, the Dodge Charger Pursuit.

Speaking of which, police departments big and small benefit from the existence of aftermarket upgrades for the mass-market vehicles they usually own. In a Tesla, the prisoner cage, the lights and sirens, and any other upgrades, would all have to be custom built – and that’s not cheap either.

As with any EV application, range and charging also come into play. The Tesla has impressive range for an EV, rated 265 miles by the EPA. Police officers can’t risk running to low on charge so the effective range is likely to be a lot less, meaning municipalities will have to implement the 90-second battery swap, which was demonstrated by Tesla a few months ago. 

Digital Trends has reached out to Atherton Chief of Police to see what he thinks about equipping his officers with luxury EVs. We haven’t heard back yet, but we will update this story if we do.

All and all, the Tesla has a lot going for it – for both consumers and cops. Particularly considering it was never intended to be more than a consumer car. But the price and the niche market of the ultimate luxury EV make its likely future as a cop car limited to enclaves of billionaires and super villains. The fact remains, however, that Model S cop car have even been proposed means that it might not be long before we see Police EVs across the nation.

(Main Photo Credit: Jalopnik)

Peter Braun
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Peter is a freelance contributor to Digital Trends and almost a lawyer. He has loved thinking, writing and talking about cars…
Topics
Waymo recalled 1,200 robotaxis following collisions with road barriers
Waymo Jaguar I-Pace

Waymo’s autonomous-car technology has made great advances over the years to the point where it’s now allowed to offer paid robotaxi rides in select locations in the U.S.

But the development of the technology is ongoing, and the robotaxi rides continue to gather valuable data for Waymo engineers to pore over as they further refine the driverless system to make it as reliable and efficient as possible. Which is why glitches will sometimes occur.

Read more
Apple CarPlay Ultra looks stunning in Aston Martin supercar debut
Apple CarPlay Ultra

Apple CarPlay Ultra is the next generation of the Cupertino, California-based firm's smartphone projection system for your car, and it's available in new vehicles in the US and Canada.

When we say "new cars", your options are very much limited to one brand... Aston Martin. So you'll need deep pockets if you want to experience CarPlay Ultra for yourself.

Read more
Archer’s flying taxis head to LA for the 2028 Olympics
archer air taxi la28 inglewood aerial a final

Remember the buzz about flying taxis zipping through Paris for the 2024 Olympics? That sci-fi fantasy never got off the ground —Germany’s Volocopter dream was denied certification, leaving fans staring at the same old ground traffic. But now, the skies are opening again for a second shot at glory—this time over Los Angeles.
Archer Aviation, the California-based electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) company, has been named the exclusive air taxi provider for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Archer’s Midnight aircraft, a piloted electric air taxi designed to carry four passengers, will be whisking around VIPs, fans, and stakeholders between venues and key locations like LAX, Hollywood, Santa Monica, and even Orange County. Think 10-20 minute flights that skip the infamous LA gridlock and land you right where the action is—on the roof, basically.
“We want to transform the way people get around Los Angeles and leave a legacy that shapes the future of transportation in America. There’s no better time to do that than during the LA28 Games,” said Adam Goldstein, CEO and founder of Archer Aviation.
And Midnight isn’t just a pretty rotor. It’s a whisper-quiet, emission-light aircraft with 12 rotors and a redundant, airline-level safety design.
What’s more, Archer and LA28 are working together to electrify vertiport hubs around the city—think futuristic sky stations—to serve not only Games-time needs but also to plant seeds for a post-Olympic air mobility network.
The air mobility market has been fast developing over the past few years, featuring the likes of Hyundai partnership with China’s XPeng HT Aero and Toyota's backing of Joby Aviation, a U.S. venture. Joby bought Uber Elevate in 2020, hoping to someday pair its air taxis with Uber’s ride-hailing app.
Archer, for its part, has been busy building a strategic partnership with United Airlines, which has already placed orders for the aircraft and is helping with logistics to integrate air taxis into airport-to-downtown travel. More than a demo for the cameras, the LA28 partnership will showcase urban air travel for real-world daily use, starting with one of the most high-profile events on Earth.
After raising false hopes in Paris, the air taxi dream is aiming for liftoff in LA—and this time, it might just stick the landing.

Read more