The Borough is in need of a new police vehicle and has narrowed it down to two choices:

1. Tesla 3 AWD – $49,790 + $6,695 (up fitting) + graphics = $56,485
2. Ford Interceptor Explorer SUV – $32,700 + $9,500 (up fitting) = $42,200

• The Ford SUV is part of Costar (bidding process for municipal purchases) so the price is very competitive. Tesla’s price listed is from the dealer; may be possible to get Tesla directly from the manufacturer for savings of up to $8,000.
• We are unsure of the expected lifespan of a vehicle, but if we are assuming a capital cost of $7,500/yr, if we keep the Tesla 3 for more than 2 years longer, that would cover most of the difference in capital costs (at dealer price).
• Because there are many fewer parts (no exhaust system, e.g.) in an electric vehicle, maintenance costs are much lower (much less likely to break).  No need for oil changes. Electric vehicles tend to be heavier than conventional cars so they wear tires faster, but mileage traveled in East Washington is low so this is not a major problem.
• Ford SUV would be able to be serviced locally; serious problems with the Tesla may require service at the Tesla dealership in Cranberry.
• Ford SUV has been used as police vehicle successfully for a long time Tesla’s are new to this task
• Electric vehicles get more than 2x the mileage of a conventional gas vehicle and electricity is cheaper than gas as fuel (costs about $7.50 to fully charge a Tesla while a full tank for the SUV will cost significantly more), so there will be a large saving in fuel costs.
• For a small borough like East Washington, a police vehicle may spend a lot of time parked with an officer inside, and an electric vehicle is much better at this task; it does not need to run its motor to be ready to go or to keep the car comfortable, which is better for the environment and less taxing on the vehicle than having to run the engine.
• Tesla’s have much better acceleration than an SUV.
• Tesla’s have a much higher resale value compared to a conventional vehicle.
• Ford has come out with a new electric vehicle, the Mach E, but the 4 WD version starts at $59k, so it is not competitive on price. No one has (as yet) created a police package for this vehicle, so the cost and effectiveness of outfitting it as a police vehicle might be a problem. Because the Tesla 3 has been out for a few years, it has also had time to work out any issues that might arise with a new design.
• The main limitation to electric vehicles is long-distance driving (because of limited battery capacity and the time it takes to recharge). This is not a major consideration for EW police, but Tesla’s are much better suited for long-distance travel than other EVs because they have a system of supercharging stations that make it much easier than other There is a new Tesla supercharging station at the Giant Eagle in S. Strabane, so it would be very convenient to recharge a Tesla if necessary.

East Washington Borough will be discussing a new Police vehicle at the June Council meeting being held at Thayer Street Park (Weather Permitting) on Monday, June 21, 2021, at 7:00 pm. If you are attending please bring your own lawn chair.

Topic: East Washington Council Meeting Continued for Monday, June 21, 2021 
Time: 7:00 P.M