The Anaheim Police Department in California wants to be the first to get a Tesla Cybertruck. There’s something funny about this, given that a police version of the all-electric vehicle currently only exists as a concept.
Can Tesla’s Cybertruck be a good vehicle for law enforcement? The Anaheim Police Department seems to think so, according to a report from 404 Media published on July 17. The media was able to get its hands on an email in which Sergeant Jacob Gallacher discusses this possibility with an employee of the company UP.FIT, which is already making modifications and communicating on a police Cybertruck.
Jacob Gallacher, who confirmed the information, said he wants his department to be the first to add a Cybertruck to its fleet. But more for a communication operation, than to make it a patrol vehicle that would be straight out of the movie RoboCop. The Anaheim Police Department would rather use it for parades or community events.
Would the Cybertruck be a good vehicle for the police?
If Jacob Gallacher assumes the gag side of this fantasy, not going all the way with the idea by making the Cybertruck a simple billboard is strange. Because Tesla’s 100% electric pickup, despite an atypical design, has all the characteristics to make it a good patrol vehicle. This is also what UP.FIT claims on the project technical sheetThe firm describes it as “ the most epic tactical vehicle on the planet ” and Elon Musk has continued to praise its merits to seduce the Army.
It is true that it is sold with the following characteristics :
- A range of more than 540 kilometers;
- 0 to 96 km/h in 2.6 seconds (useful for chases on the streets and on Californian highways);
- Superior natural armor, ” Our most bullet-resistant patrol vehicle », dixit UP-FIT ;
- An integrated internet connection thanks to Starlink;
- A very dissuasive design;
- A host of options for modularity.
For example, the Cybertruck’s interior can be redesigned and rearranged to accommodate more crime-fighting equipment, jail cells, or dog cages. These modified elements can impact efficiency, however, as they add weight — one of the enemies of energy consumption.
The catch: This versatile Cybertruck doesn’t exist yet, Jacob Gallacher confided, ” They (UP-FIT) have not yet modified one to make it usable in a patrol exercise. » He also says the current price tag — over $100,000 — could prevent the pickup from being the number one option for police officers. The opposite is true of the Model Y, which the Anaheim Police Department already has six of in its fleet. At worst, police in Mexico or Dubai could be interested in the Cybertruck.
Source: www.numerama.com
