Fremont PD Hybrid and EV Police Patrol Vehicles

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In an effort to improve efficiency, Fremont Police has transitioned part of its fleet from gas-powered vehicles to hybrid vehicles. Since 2009, the department began using Toyota Prius and Ford Fusion hybrid vehicles. In 2019, Fremont Police deployed its first fully electric-powered vehicle, a Tesla Model S 85, as part of its patrol fleet. In 2021, FPD deployed its second fully electric-powered patrol vehicle, a Tesla Model Y.

FPD’s Electric Patrol Vehicle Pilot Program Outcome Report highlighted that the Tesla Model S 85 met or exceeded expectations, often demonstrating superior performance when compared to standard gas Ford police pursuit vehicles (PPVs), as well as being cost-effective. This program plays a significant role in the Citywide effort to identify long-term, economical ways to be more sustainable and meet Fremont’s goal of reducing 2005 levels of greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2045.

Fremont Police Department Expands Electric Fleet by Deploying Tesla Model Y Patrol Vehicle

The Model Y became the Department’s latest addition in its hybrid and electric fleet of over forty vehicles. Compared to the Tesla Model S 85 deployed in 2019, the Tesla Model Y can last one to two patrol shifts on one charge and reaches an additional 61 miles per charge while maintaining the same projected ownership costs. Additional specifications and comparison data are available in the media kit below.

The Tesla Model Y made its first public appearances at the Fremont Street Eats Public Safety Night event on Friday, October 1, 2021 at the Fremont Main Library. Media and community members had the opportunity to get a first-hand look at the latest patrol vehicle.

Tesla Model Y Media Kit (Includes Tesla patrol vehicle specs and comparison)
Tesla Model Y Purchase and Modification Cost Summary

Tesla Y left front with PD logo Tesla front 2 with PD logo

Fremont PD's First all Electric-Powered Police Patrol Vehicle - Tesla Model S 85

In January 2018, Fremont Police delivered the check to Tesla for purchasing of a used 2014 Tesla Model S 85 and began the modifications necessary for the vehicle to become a patrol car. In March 2019, the vehicle began patrolling the streets of Fremont. Tesla vehicles are manufactured locally in the City of Fremont.

Tesla Police Tesla

Modifications to the Tesla Patrol Vehicles

Overhead light-bar and siren
Headlight and rear flashers
Equipment console and electronics tray
Mobile digital computer and mounting system
Police vehicle radio
Vehicle camera
Push-bumper
Prisoner partition
Prisoner seat
Ballistic door panels for driver and front passenger doors
Trunk lights
Driver & passenger spotlights (Model Y only)
Pushbar spotlight and wheel well lights (Model S 85 only)

Fremont Police Department’s Current Hybrid Fleet

Additional Sustainability Facts from Fremont Police Department

The City’s General Plan vision is for Fremont to serve as a national model of how an auto-oriented suburb can evolve into a sustainable, strategically urban, modern city.
The City’s Robert Wasserman Police Complex has 872 kW of solar carport structures installed onsite, providing clean and renewable electricity to the facility and to the electric vehicle as well as saving the City money on its electricity and vehicle operation bills.
With all of Fremont’s electricity supply coming from either onsite renewable solar power or 100% carbon-free, grid-based electricity through East Bay Community Energy (EBCE), each police vehicle that is replaced with an EV will completely zero out the greenhouse gas emissions associated with that vehicle’s operation.

The History of the Fremont Automobile Industry and the Fremont Police Department’s Green Energy Initiative Timeline

2009 – The FPD purchases two Ford Escape Hybrid vehicles and five 2009 Toyota Prius vehicles.
2010 –The GM Fremont Assembly line closes; Tesla Motors announces they had purchased part of the GM plant.
2011 – The FPD deploys nine Ford Escape Hybrids for CSO fleet; FPD discontinues use of the Crown Victoria.
2012 – The City of Fremont begins to implement the Climate Action Plan with the goal of reaching 25% greenhouse gas emission reductions from a 2005 baseline by the year 2020.
2016 –The FPD deploys five Ford Fusion Hybrids for command staff and admin Lieutenants.
2017 – The FPD purchases and deploys two additional Ford Fusion Hybrid Plug-Ins.
2018 – The FPD purchases and deploys one additional Ford Fusion Hybrid Plug-Ins for command staff; All Chief, Captains, and Administrative Lieutenants are driving hybrid vehicles; Tesla vehicle purchased.
2019 – The 2014 Tesla Model S 85 begins to patrol along with the 2019 Ford Fusion Police Responder PPV.
2020 – The Fremont Police Department shares findings from the nation’s first Electric Patrol Vehicle Pilot Program/ Purchase of Tesla Model Y.
2021 - Deployment of Tesla Model Y patrol vehicle.

Interesting History on the Automobile Industry in Fremont

With City streets designed and built around the automobile, Fremont has a long history of vehicle manufacturing. In 1962 GM built the General Motors Fremont Assembly site in the southern part of the City, which spans approximately 88 football fields. At one point in time, the plant operated in a joint venture between Toyota and GM and an average of 6,000 vehicles were built a week. GM pulled out of the venture and on April 1, 2010 the last car, a red Toyota Corolla, came off the line. Within two months of the closure, Tesla Motors announced they had purchased part of the plant. Today, the facility has almost doubled in size and is known as the Tesla Factory.

Road Map on Transition to Hybrid Vehicles

A Glimpse at Fremont PD's Historic Patrol Cars

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