UK police trialling Tesla EVs as part of its fleet

The initiative, fully funded by Tesla, covers all costs, including vehicle charging. A force spokesman indicated that these EVs are part of the roads policing unit's operational patrols.

The Tesla Model Y can achieve a top speed of 135mph and offers a range of up to 331 miles. Its counterpart, the Model 3, reaches speeds up to 125mph and can travel up to 390 miles on a single charge. Both models have already been seen on patrol in the Carlisle area.

Cumbria Police serves a population of 500,000 across an area of 2,634 square miles, much of which are areas of isolated and rural community. Each year, the force's area, which incorporates the Lake District National Park, attracts over 23 million visitors from all over the world (46 times the local population).

In light of financial challenges, Tesla recently disclosed its poorest quarterly earnings since 2012, attributing the downturn to a 9% year-on-year revenue drop. Despite this setback, Tesla's shares rose nearly 10% in after-hours trading, driven by optimistic forecasts about accelerating production of lower-cost vehicles and new model releases.

The automotive company also announced an expansion in its AI capabilities and ongoing development of a robotaxi network. These advancements come at a time when Tesla is slashing prices globally and reducing its workforce by 10%, approximately 14,000 jobs.

In the UK, police forces like Cumbria are experimenting with Teslas, assessing their potential as part of the law enforcement vehicle fleet. Each UK police force manages its own fleet, choosing cars based on specific departmental needs.

Among the most commonly used vehicles in British police forces are: Ford Focus, Vauxhall Astra, Vauxhall Insignia, Ford Fiesta, and Skoda Octavia.