7 minute read
A TURNKEY TESLA SOLUTION FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT
A TURNKEY TESLA SOLUTION FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT
by Sgt. Brad Brewer
The use of Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) in law enforcement is hardly breaking news these days. Many law enforcement agencies have already been early adopters in the use of BEVs for several years now. NYPD is probably the largest adopter of this technology after they purchased and deployed over 160 Ford Mustang Mach-E GT police upfitted vehicles. NYPD was one of the first to use BEVs in a frontline operational deployment. Most agencies testing the waters of BEV adoption find Administrative, Executive, or Investigative positions more conducive to the limitations placed on BEVs with charging requirements.
In the consumer space, the dominant force has to be Tesla, and a few adventurous agencies have attempted to deploy Tesla police vehicles in the field using their own unique approach to Tesla upfitting. To be clear from the start, Tesla the OEM does not produce or offer a police-rated vehicle, not Pursuit-rated and not Special Service-rated. However, there is a group of engineers that decided they would take on the task of standardizing and putting together ‘turnkey’ Tesla Police purpose-built vehicles.
If the name Unplugged Performance (UP.FIT) name rings a bell, it is because they are the company who produced the tuned Tesla Model S Plaid racer that ran at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb race, as well as the cool modified Tesla Model 3 that MotorTrend Magazine borrowed for a track day last year.
Unplugged Performance is surely one of the most well-known and accomplished authorized Tesla tuners, like what European tuner shops such as Alpina and AMG were for BMW and Mercedes-Benz way back in the day before they were bought and absorbed into their respective automakers. The Engineers at Unplugged Performance wants everyone to be aware that they are completely independent from Tesla but maintain a healthy relationship.
It is ironic, but in a weird way, Unplugged Performance is transitioning from vehicles the police would probably chase to chase vehicles for the police themselves to drive. Tesla was revolutionary and made electric cars fast and cool so not to be left out. Many police departments around the world have been modifying the BEVs to suit their needs ever since the Tesla Model S sedan went on sale back in 2012.
Having 10 years of experience, UP.FIT is a one-stop solution for all hardware and software upfitting needs, including electrical, safety, lighting, charging, and peripheral technologies. UP.FIT offers complete packages with Fleet Management tools including GPS tracking, fleet operations guidance, strategic maintenance planning, along with a comprehensive driver training program.
UP.FIT has Tesla-specific proprietary packages for just about everything an agency would want. Proprietary meaning, they worked closely with Tesla engineers to ensure the modifications they are doing to the vehicle are an enhancement to the vehicle and in no way risk the fundamental operation of the Tesla infrastructure:
• Special Armoring packages with new proprietary materials weigh less than current materials and still maintaining the NIJ III+.
• Off-road and winter packages are custom designed and engineered for each model and agency requirements.
• Cargo storage systems are all custom to the vehicle in an effort to maximize space while still maintaining a safe environment for the operator. Firearm and equipment racks are also factored into the space.
UP.FIT has also engineered a custom Push Bumper solution with optional lighting and grill guards if required. This can include siren speakers, air horns, and PA systems if desired. Prisoner cells and partitions are not modified generic equipment; they are custom engineered to use the Tesla space and mounting points.
Most Fleet Manager concerns can usually be boiled down to three main issues: infrastructure costs, charge times, and range anxiety. UP.FIT has some ideas to relieve that anxiety and then some. UP.FIT will work with each agency right from sourcing vehicles, setting up leasing programs, and even assisting with financing setup. To ensure a smooth transition, UP.FIT has structured training, charging, and infrastructure support if needed. This includes everything up to and including the initial stages of simply getting your legislative approvals in order.
UP.FIT is truly a full-solution consultant.
If charging is your main obstacle, then UP.FIT will assist with infrastructure design, approvals, and installation. Keep in mind that Tesla allows for Level 4 charging, which will give an extra 200-mile range with a 15-minute charge.
Police agency procurement of battery electric vehicles has typically been in small batches of just a few vehicles at a time. Until now, no one in law enforcement has made the bold move to transition their entire fleet over to battery electric vehicles. The South Pasadena Police Department (SPPD) is an agency that was willing to take that big step, and is now replacing its entire fleet of police cars with the Tesla Model 3 sedan and Model Y SUV, outfitted for special police work by the notorious Tesla race car modifier Unplugged Performance.
UP.FIT is currently in the process of modifying 10 Tesla Model 3 and 10 Tesla Model Y vehicles for use by the South Pasadena Police Department, replacing its entire internal combustion fleet. “Tesla’s stunning track record of reliability, low-maintenance costs, impressive on-road performance, and driving dynamics make EV transition a safe choice for many departments. The cost savings are undeniable and being able to bring Tesla’s entire suite of crash and safety systems to bear on officer safety is an added benefit above and beyond the economics of operating and maintaining this modern EV fleet,” said Sergeant Tony Abdalla.
UP.FIT does not advertise the specifics of what and how they modify these Teslas for each client to ensure complete security around the vehicle’s technology. This makes good sense because as everyone is aware, the more these vehicles become connected devices, the more vulnerable they are to nefarious attackers.
As an example, the lighting packages are designed with a custom wiring harness that leverages the Tesla OE wiring solution and OE lighting. The way this is done and how it is integrated into the vehicle is confidential to ensure integrity of the system.
Operational security is always a concern for law enforcement, so UP.FIT is exceptionally good at keeping their projects well-guarded with proprietary engineering solutions that are not available to outside sources. UP did release info that the SPPD Teslas would be ‘non-performance’ versions of Tesla’s vehicles.
SPPD has requested different variants be produced, including some with ballistic shielding and protection, vehicles with ‘prisoner cells’ for front-line patrol officers, as well as specialized K9 units. Obviously, the other changes include the addition of various lights and siren amplifiers, a graphics package, as well as vehicle protection pieces like a front push bar.
UP.FIT is still committed to its business of modifying Teslas for racing activities as well as privately owned customer cars for street use. Moving forward, UP plans to become an upfitter for more police departments looking to upgrade their fleet to EVs, and is offering to provide “Tesla-specific engineering, manufacturing, upfitting, vehicle sourcing, and city/PD sales support to ensure the growth of the segment.”
UP.FIT has the SPPD deployment almost complete with its delivery of SPPD’s first Model 3 and Model Y’s. The plan for the full 20-vehicle fleet of Teslas for the South Pasadena Police was for delivery by the end of 2023. UP.FIT is looking at the feasibility of having a fully upfit vehicle ready to go for the 2024 MSP and LASD vehicle testing events, so keep an eye out for that.
As the needs of law enforcement, public safety, military, and corporate fleets continue to rapidly change, so will the increasing popularity of Tesla vehicles for duty. Many traditional
upfitters have struggled with the unique requirements of electric vehicles and implementing solutions that work in harmony with Tesla’s ecosystem has been a challenge. Unplugged Performance, as the leader in Tesla modifications, offers a complete one-stop solution for specialized vehicle upfitting, including electrical, safety, lighting, charging, technology and more, that works seamlessly with Tesla vehicle infrastructure.
If your agency is considering a move to BEVs, it makes sense to contact UP.FIT and allow them an opportunity to provide a custom turnkey solution from start to finish. To learn more, click here
