You may remember last year Los Angeles Police Department borrowed a fully-electric BMW i3 to run as a fleet car and see if it’s suitable for their efforts in reducing their carbon footprint. Well, those trials must have gone amazingly because LAPD has now placed an order for a 100 of these things.
Don’t think that it’s now easier to get away with your crime in Los Angeles though. LAPD’s BMW i3 Police Cars will be employed as part of the department’s non-emergency fleet vehicles, meaning they will mainly be used as transportation vehicles for officers and in community outreach initiatives.
BMW is taking this whole very seriously, however, and have already come up with a web tool that will allow the department to track their fleet in near real-time, contributing to improved deployment, utilization, and the efficient charging. What’s more, BMW’s software data system will integrate with the LAPD’s fleet management system which will allow the department to electronically receive critical vehicle data, thus making it easier to maintain the fleet.
“The attributes of the BMW i3 position it to excel as the ideal vehicle for municipal organizations. The performance and technical capabilities, such as the BMW i3 ‘s acceleration, and its ConnectedDrive integration, are perfectly suited to transform the future mobility of the Los Angeles Police Department while also reducing their carbon footprint,” said Ludwig Willisch, President and CEO of BMW of North America.
