The Basel police have decided to keep the seven Tesla electric vehicles they have been using since 2019 for longer than initially planned.
The decision comes after tests revealed that the electric cars are more durable in police operations than expected, showing less wear and tear compared to traditional combustion-engine vehicles.
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“The initial plan was to replace them by the end of 2025. However, tests have shown that longer use is also possible,” said Rooven Brucker, a police spokesperson, in an interview with BZ Basel. Initially, the Teslas were expected to be too worn out after five years, but the vehicles have proven to be more resilient.
The seven vehicles in use are Tesla Model X 100 D models, which were selected due to their ability to meet the specific requirements of the Basel cantonal police. At the time, Tesla was the only manufacturer offering an electric car suitable for the role. Despite the higher initial cost of around CHF 140,000 per vehicle, including police modifications, the decision was made to invest in the Teslas over conventional cars, which would have cost approximately CHF 90,700.
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The Teslas have now surpassed 100,000 kilometers in mileage, and while the Basel police have not confirmed when they will eventually be replaced, they noted that future tenders could still include Tesla as an option. The police force, which operates around 200 vehicles, added eight Nissan Leafs to their fleet three years ago, although only one of these is currently in active police use.
Source: bzbasel