There are several options for police department squad cars. However, the Ford Interceptor is easily the most popular. Still, some departments are adopting all-electric cars. Now, one department is speaking out about why it regrets adopting Tesla cars alongside its more traditional options. 

The Tesla squad cars aren’t working out

There are many reasons why police departments may want to use all-electric vehicles as their squad cars. They save on fuel costs, offer solid performance, etc. However, according to Teslarati, the  Menlo Park Police Department regrets going with the Tesla Model Y over the Ford Mustang Mach-E. The department uses three Tesla vehicles and still has its other cars. 

Price is one of the biggest reasons the department regrets the decision. While these cars may save on fuel costs, outfitting them properly was $12,700 more than it would have been for the Ford Interceptor package. When considering the overall cost of the vehicle, the department spent 33 percent more than it would have on its usual Ford vehicles. Notably, this is per each of its three Tesla Model Y squad cars.

Police officers also have issues with the vehicles. They say there is a significant reduction in interior space after adding the necessary equipment. They say it’s so bad that it makes the passenger seat almost unusable. The police officers also don’t like the smart features of the Tesla Model Y. In particular, the autopilot feature causes various interferences. In summary, the department does not see Tesla’s options as the future of squad cars. However, this may not be the case for other all-electric cars.