The Los Angeles Police Department now has 100 BMW i3s on the streets in the City of Angels.
The police department began field tests in September 2015. The i3 was tested alongside other EVs but the LAPD ultimately accepted BMW’s bid.
The Los Angeles Times reported that the LAPD also tested a Tesla Model S P90D, the vehicle’s top-end performance variant.
The i3s will be leased for three years for $387 per month each, a BMW spokesman said.
The electric cars will serve as the LAPD’s non-emergency fleet vehicles in which they will be used as transportation vehicles for officers and community outreach initiatives.
“The performance and technical capabilities, such as the BMW i3’s acceleration, and its ConnectedDrive integration, are perfectly suited to transform the future mobility of the Los Angeles Police Department while also reducing their carbon footprint,” said Ludwig Willisch, CEO of BMW of North America, in a statement Wednesday.
The LAPD’s fleet management system will be integrated with BMW’s software data system, allowing the LAPD to electronically receive vehicle data for fleet maintenance.
BMW’s network of i centers will be available for serving the fleet, the company said.
BMW is also designing a web tool that will allow the LAPD to track the i3s in real time.
Greenlots will supply 100 Level 2 chargers and four DC fast chargers to the LAPD.
