Small California City Boasts First-in-Nation Fully Electric Police Fleet

South Pasadena has 20 new Teslas and dozens of new charging stations, which the police chief said will pollute less and save on energy and maintenance costs.

A Tesla vehicle is charged in Kettleman City, Calif., on Jan. 25, 2023. Mike Blake/Reuters

The South Pasadena Police Department became the first in the nation this week to completely replace its gas-powered vehicles with fully electric ones, the small city of about 26,000 people announced July 29.

“The City Council is fully behind this transition. We will have a 21st century police force that is safe, clean and saves taxpayer dollars,” Mayor Evelyn Zneimer said in the press release.