“We will be putting our officers in the safest and most effective police vehicles on the market,” Cacciotti said. “In addition to that, we will be investing in technology that will help reduce harmful vehicle emissions to improve air quality for all our residents.”, said South Pasadena Councilmember Michael Cacciotti.

Cacciotti emphasized the project’s potential to serve as a model for other jurisdictions, demonstrating how a 21st-century police force can save resources and improve air quality simultaneously. In September 2022, The South Pasadena City Council voted to make the switch to EVs, as the current public safety vehicle fleet, which comprise Ford Interceptors had reached the end of its useful service life.

“Tesla’s stunning track record of reliability, low maintenance costs, and impressive on-road performance and driving dynamics make EV transition a safe choice for many departments,” said police Sgt. Tony Abdalla, South Pasadena Police Department EV Project Transition Lead. “The cost savings are undeniable and being able to bring Tesla’s entire suite of crash and safety systems to bear on officer safety is an added benefit above and beyond the economics of operating and maintaining this modern EV fleet.”

The city partnered with the Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction Review Committee and Southern California Edison to make the transition to electrified vehicles.