During a shift this week, Fremont Police officer Jesse Hartman was forced to abandon a high-speed chase involving a fleeing suspect. The reason: his Tesla patrol car did not have enough power to carry on.
Hartman issued the order to pull over, but the suspect refused to comply — choosing instead to put the pedal to the floor and make a run for it. Hartman gave chase and radioed for backup.
Not specifically because of the Tesla’s battery level, mind you, but because that’s what police officers do when they’re involved in a potentially dangerous pursuit. Hartman did give fellow officers updates about the car’s status, though, and they were ready to take the lead when it became clear that the suspect was rapidly heading beyond the Tesla’s range.
Ultimately the gas-powered cruisers were called off as well. The pursuit was deemed too risky given the way the suspect was driving. CHP eventually located the suspect’s vehicle in San Jose, California.
This isn’t the first time the Fremont PD have had one of their Tesla cruisers run out of juice while on the job. Gas-powered patrol cars occasionally run dry, too.
Geneva Bosques, spokesperson for the Fremont PD, made it clear that the Department is still bullish on its Tesla. “This one instance does not in any way change our feeling regarding the performance of the vehicle for patrol purposes,” she told reporters.
Bosques added, “So far the car is meeting or exceeding our expectations. We are still in our first six months of the pilot program and we’re keeping track of all the data.”
For the Fremont PD, the adjustment process is worth it. They’ve been working hard at making their fleet of vehicles as green as possible for several years now. The department also utilizes several Toyota Prius, Ford Escape, and Ford Fusion hybrids, as well as a handful of Ford Fusion Energi PHEVs.
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