Los Angeles police neglect EV fleet

Los Angeles Police Department’s 100-strong fleet of BMW i3 electric cars has barely been used by its administration and general duties staff.

Costing the city $1.4 million (NZ$1.9 million) for a three-year lease, the exercise was well publicised in mid-2016 as part of a $10.2 million (NZ$14 million) program to reduce the LAPD’s fleet emissions.

However, a CBS

investigation found some vehicles have only clocked less than 1000 kilometres in 18 months, despite BMW winning the contract which included an additional $1.5 million (NZ$2 million) for charging infrastructure.

The i3s were supposed to have been used for community outreach programs, general police duties and administration, but not patrol work, except in some instances staff have used them for personal journeys.

The EVs cost approximately $387 (NZ$531) per month, but mileage logs obtained by CBS reveal from April 2016 to August 2017 most vehicles had only done a few thousand kilometres, many sitting idle.

In response to the investigation LAPD deputy chief Jorge Villegas, told CBS having he vehicles was about going green and saving money.

At the 2016 press conference LA mayor Eric Garcetti said the city “should be thinking green in everything we do,” saying the initiative would “also save money and resources.”

One fiscal operations commander was followed by the local media outlet taking one of the i3 fleet to have a manicure, and another was followed to a local take-away lunch shop which returned back to the station.