The City of Venice in Florida intends to test the fleet of its newly acquired three Tesla Model 3 vehicles to see its cost-effectiveness. The authorities aim to see if the said electric sedans are truly useful for reducing the cost of operating multiple cars for government purposes.
The Model 3 units will be used in three Venice government branches: one in the utility division and one in the Building division. The remaining one has already been deployed as a Police Cruiser for patrol operations in the Venice Police Department.
Tesla’s Rear-Wheel-Drive Model 3
Travis Hout, Fleet and Facilities Maintenance Manager of the Department of Public Works, said they would test the vehicles for a year to decide if it is effective.
Hout noted that the year period would give the City of Venice sufficient time to determine potential savings to the public. They expect that electric vehicles involve less maintenance and fuel, which has saved other agencies thousands of dollars in the past.
The Utilities Department will use its Model 3 for administrative purposes, trips to read meters, and visits to people or businesses needing technical assistance. The Buildings Department will use its Model 3 for building inspections. Meanwhile, the Police department will use the Model 3 Performance for patrolling.
Both two units appear to be Tesla’s Rear-Wheel-Drive Model 3.
Law enforcement agencies use model 3 and Model S
The one-year timeframe will allow the City to assess its cost savings, which could lead to Venice adopting more EVs into its fleet.
The test will determine if “it is a good model for the City of Venice moving forward,” according to Hout.
Electric vehicle police cruisers have become popular recently, as several departments have used Model 3s and other EVs to save money.
In mid-2021, the Westport Police Department in Connecticut issued a financial analysis revealing that its first entire year of operation had already offset the purchase price and saved money.
Other Model 3 and Model S vehicles have been used by law enforcement agencies nationwide and even internationally, with Thailand’s National Police Force operating a fleet of Model 3s for several years.
Meanwhile, the FBI, Department of Homeland Security, British Police, and Michigan State Police have adopted other EVs, such as Ford’s Mustang Mach E.
