LAPD Just Ordered 100 ‘BMW i3s’ Worth $40K Each

As part of the city’s effort to become a leader in using green technology, the Los Angeles Police Department just made an order for a fleet of 100 “BMW i3” electric vehicles. According to an official blog post from the LAPD, combined with the 68 electric vehicles that the department already has, Los Angeles has just become the national leader in utilizing green cars for government use.

The city was originally considering the “Tesla Model S,” according to Engadget. However, the exorbitant price that the electric vehicle from the California-based car maker came with made the biggest difference when it came to choosing which model to go for.

The deal also incorporates the condition that over 104 charging stations should be built all around the city. This is logical since it would be inefficient to drive for miles in order to charge a police vehicle, and the deficiency in charging stations could even impede LAPD officers from doing their jobs. With over 168 electric vehicles in their arsenal, the number of charging stations is expected to come in handy.

PC Mag also notes that the new addition of electric vehicles is in line with the plan by Mayor Eric Garcetti's to make Los Angeles the greenest city in the country by requiring that half of the new vehicles to enter the city should be electric.

"Every sector should be migrating to green technology — and these new EVs show how local government can lead," Garcetti said in a statement. "Our sustainability plan pushes L.A. to speed adoption of greener practices and technologies, which also save money and resources. If LAPD can do it, so can everyone else."

The full amount that the city will need to pay for the fleet and the charging stations has not been disclosed, though fleet purchases typically come with steep discounts from individual retail prices. As such, it isn’t likely that the LAPD will pay the full $40,000 for each “BMW i3.”