NEWS: Five years after debuting Indiana's first
@Tesla police car, the Bargersville Police Department says it has saved them nearly $500,000 in maintenance and repairs.
Police chief Bertram said nothing has changed the department's commitment to their Teslas: "I couldn't even begin to say how much money the department has saved. Since 2020, I'd say we've been saving about $70,000-$80,000 a year from having our vehicles, and the more cars we get, the more savings too."
The department, which has 16 officers, started with one Tesla in 2019 and has since added another dozen.
Bertram remembers getting a monthly gas bill in June 2024 that was more than $3,100 for four Ford gas cars. That same month, he said, it cost $300 to charge all 13 electric vehicles.
The police chief also said they've never had to replace any brakes on the Teslas. That repair on gas cars can run between $1,200 and $1,500. He said the department hasn't experienced any issues or concerns with the electric cars except one that needed a battery pack changed.