The St. Helena Police Department in Napa County is making strides toward reducing its carbon footprint by integrating electric vehicles (EVs) into its police fleet – becoming the first law enforcement agency in the county to transition away from traditional gasoline vehicles.
The St. Helena PD has purchased three electric cars and one hybrid truck to revamp its fleet – this includes a Tesla Model 3 for the Police Chief, two Ford Mustang Mach-E patrol vehicles, and a Ford Maverick Hybrid pickup.
Currently, the vehicles are being equipped with necessary law enforcement accessories, such as lights, and all are expected to be ready for duty by early to mid-March 2024.
“Combating climate change is a priority for St. Helena,” said City Councilmember Anna Chouteau. “We have great people and leaders in our city who understand the risks of not acting and making changes fast enough. We are being practical and thoughtful as we work to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and make better, more sustainable choices.”
This introduction of EVs into the police force will also allow St. Helena to understand the true range of the EVs when used during a typical 12-hour shift.
While the electric patrol cars boast a range of 250 miles per charge, this statistic doesn’t factor in the additional power required to use onboard computers, radios, and other technical equipment crucial to an officer’s daily tasks.
Through this smaller investment, the St. Helena PD can ascertain where improvements can be made to ensure electric patrol cars are as effective as possible before more widespread integration occurs.
