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LAPD Going Electric With The BMW i3

(Credit: BMW)

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LAPD Going Electric With The BMW i3

BMW i3s

BMW i3s (Credit: BMW)

Not too long ago people were freaking out because LAPD was testing out the Tesla Model S. There was talk of pursuits ending in a hurry thanks to Ludicrous Mode, the practicality of patrol units charging up for half an hour, etc. Then LAPD decided to forget about Tesla.

Now LAPD has officially announced it’s buying 100 BMW i3s, but it’s not what you think. If you live in Los Angeles, don’t expect to be pulled over by a black-and-white Bimmer for speeding. Instead, they’ll be used only for non-emergency functions, including community outreach where cops smile and shake hands instead of cuffing people.

There are a few reasons why BMW beat out Tesla. Managing fleets is a lot different from owning a personal vehicle, especially law enforcement vehicles, and it sounds like BMW understood and addressed that fact better. It also came down to better reliability and more servicing locations.

LAPD likes the tight turning radius and compact size of the i3. In case you’ve never been there, Los Angeles is famous for congested roads, so that’s a big deal for cops.

One of the cool things BMW is doing for LAPD is creating a web tool that will give almost real-time updates on each vehicle. Hopefully it uses some pretty secure protocols to guard against hackers.

LAPD is also getting 100 Level 2 chargers and four DC fast chargers to manage the i3 fleet.

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