Model Y police car in Switzerland. Source: Reddit
A Tesla Model Y has joined the Swiss police force in St. Gallen, joining at least 13 Hyundai Kona EVs. And there are more to come.
An image of the Model Y fitted out in the striking livery of the St. Gallen police fleet emerged on social forum Reddit on Saturday, and has been confirmed by The Driven as a new addition to the police of the St. Gallen canton (an administrative district not to be mistaken for the city of St. Gallen).
The Tesla Model Y – the Californian EV maker’s all-electric crossover – is available in Switzerland in either Long range or Performance configurations.
Although it is unknown which variant the St. Gallen have chosen, both have formidable specifications, including acceleration from 0-100km/hr in the Long Range version and 3.7 seconds in the case of the Performance version.
And with at least 514km WLTP range, both variants will drive plenty of distance before requiring a recharge.
The post on Reddit said that “more will follow”, and it is likely that it will not only be the St. Gallen canton to add the Model Y to its fleet.
In 2019, a total of 13 Hyundai Kona EVs were added to the police fleets of Swiss cantons in east Switzerland for use in patrol duties.
A Hyundai Kona EV police car in Sydney. Source: Hyundai
There have been arguments for and against the use of Tesla electric cars as police vehicles, however. A recent report stated that police in Spokane, Washington in the US said the Model Y was too small to accommodate police officers, and too expensive to convert to for use as a patrol car, says Green Car Reports.
However, in 2021 a trial of the Tesla Model 3 Performance by UK police drew positive reviews, having proven it could easily handle the four-hour “blue light” run used to test whether a car was suitable as a police car.
There are also a number of electric cars including from both Tesla and Hyundai in operation in Australia, including five Kona EVs and three Ioniq fastbacks in South Australia for non-operational use, and in 2019 a Tesla Model X was put into use as a highway patrol vehicle. It is now used for community engagement and evaluation.
In 2021, The Driven reported that a Hyundai Kona EV would be trialled by the NSW police force in Sydney.
Keyword: Tesla Model Y electric crossover joins Kona EVs on Swiss police fleet