News / avon and somerset police
Tesla police car spotted in city centre
One year ago Mark Shelford, the Avon and Somerset police commissioner stated that the police force will not switch to electric vehicles due to their price and performance.
But shoppers in Broadmead were recently surprised to see a Tesla-designed police car parked in the middle of Bristol’s busy city centre.
“We regularly are requested to do demos on cars,” said the Avon and Somerset Police when Bristol24/7 asked about the car spotting.
is needed now More than ever
“We have one Tesla which we have until the end of the week.”
“The Tesla is on loan to Avon and Somerset Police for officers to test drive. As part of our approach to test and approve future fleet, we maintain strong commercial relationships with all vehicle manufacturers, this enables us to make both short- and long-term decisions on fleet profile.
“A key element of this decision making involves regular test driving of demonstrators, this also gives officers the opportunity to have input on new fleet before we considering investing in it. Manufacturers also proactively offer vehicles for our consideration.”
In April earlier this year Bristol24/7 reported that a Tesla had been driven through a shop window on Whiteladies Road and that the elderly woman driving the car could not remember anything.
Teslas and other electric cars are being tested by police forces across the UK, many of whom are considering integrating electric vehicles into their fleets for sustainability reasons.
The Tesla spotting also comes at a time when Bristol’s Clean Air Zone is being rolled out across the city, which will restrict non-compliant vehicles from entering Bristol’s city centre.
In a statement, Avon and Somerset police said: “Our fleet strategy commits to a minimum of 30 per cent EV fleet by 2027. EVs are already operating across Bristol in neighbourhood and pool car roles. It is important that we balance our role as leaders within the community by leading the adoption of EV fleet, whilst managing budgets responsibly. Clean air zones in Bristol and Bath mean that the public also expect us to operate EVs, where operationally viable.”
“We are only test driving one Tesla now and it is being driven by different units across the force area.”
The police have also said the vehicle is a loan and has come at no cost to the force.
Main photo: Jedrzej Borkowski
Read next:
- Is Bristol prepared for the clean air zone?
- Tesla driven through shop window
- Plans to regenerate area of the city built on local views
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