As good stewards of both the environment and taxpayer dollars, the Huntington Beach City Council approved the purchase of two Tesla Model Y vehicles for the Police Department’s patrol fleet.
The Tesla Model Y is less expensive than its counterpart, the Chevy Tahoe, and because Teslas do not require traditional oil changes, fuel filters, spark plugs, etc., the maintenance for a Tesla is far less than the estimated $3,500 of annual maintenance for a gas vehicle. The electricity cost to power the Teslas is approximately $800 per year, which is significantly less than fuel costs for a traditional vehicle at $5,700 per year.
Safety of the Huntington Beach Police Officers was also a high priority in the vehicle selection process. While all vehicles used in the Police Department’s fleet have excellent safety records, the Model Y had a 5-star overall rating, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
The City Council approval to purchase the 2021 Tesla Model Y makes Huntington Beach the first city to be using this type of vehicle in the State of California.
