The city of Newport continues to add new vehicles to its Tesla pilot program for the police department.
The Newport Police Department first added three Tesla Model 3 vehicles in December 2023 and then requested two more in November 2024 after the success of the first three. In January, Newport requested the Tesla Model Y electric vehicle for use, initially in the planning, development, and code departments. During a meeting on June 16, the commission approved four more Tesla Model Y electric vehicles for its police fleet.
“It kind of seems like we’re on the cutting edge of using electric vehicles for policing, so I’m proud of that,” Newport Commissioner Aaron Sutherland said.
During the meeting, the city discussed the benefits of vehicles, including cost and environmental benefits.
As shown in the graphic provided by the city, the base purchase price difference between the Tesla Model Y (2026) and the department’s previously purchased vehicle of choice, the Dodge Durango (2025), is 13.64%.
The graph also shows the advantages of buying the Tesla vehicles in upfitting costs, annual energy and fuel cost, annual maintenance cost, resale value (five years), total energy and fuel cost (five years), total maintenance (five years), and total cost per vehicle (five years). All of which show the Tesla winning out in each category.
Newport estimated that its total savings over five years for the four Teslas is $148,311.56.
The city also considered environmental considerations. The graph provided by Newport shows that Dodge Durango’s total C02 emissions over five years are 360.53 metric tons, and the total electric vehicles’ tailpipe and indirect C02 emissions over five years are estimated at 19.87 metric tons.
The Tesla Model Y is a larger model that can be outfitted with a cage to hold arrested people.
“It’s really fascinating to think that a year ago, we bought a couple of Teslas for use in the police department, but we weren’t able to do vehicles that would be large enough for use on patrol, and so we’ve proved the concept in terms of all these things you presented tonight, and now going to a larger vehicle so patrol can use it,” Newport Vice Mayor Julie Smith-Morrow said. “I think it’s fabulous.”
Newport City Manager John Hayden said the city considered a variety of electric vehicles, including the Nissan Leaf, Chevy Blazer, and Chevy Equinox, among others, but they were either more expensive than Tesla or too small to be outfitted with a cage for a police vehicle.
“I understand that in today’s political climate, Tesla has become a hot-button issue,” Hayden said. “The job of the city, with the theme of fiscal responsibility, is to look at what makes the best financial decisions for the city.”
Newport Police Chief Chris Fangman said the department has a Tesla Model 3 and a Model Y on its ramp for residents to come see. The Model 3 is marked as a police vehicle with lights and a siren and is operated by a night shift lieutenant. Model Y has not been outfitted yet. Since that model is larger than the Model 3, it will receive a cage in the back.
“I would invite the community to reach out,” Hayden said. “The chief always has an open-door policy to come in, ask questions, and take a ride along if there’s anybody in the public who is curious about how Tesla works.”
Newport Assistant City Manager Brian Steffen said the reason Newport can even put the Model Y vehicles into the patrol fleet is that they have a very robust charging program.
The city has two superchargers capable of doing 100 kilowatt-hours of charging time. Further, Steffen said they are negotiating for an additional third supercharger that will charge two vehicles simultaneously at 80 kilowatts or one at 180 kilowatts. Steffen said these charges typically run $180,000 to $200,000 per unit but is in negotiation with a company for around the $20,000 range.
“We believe that we’re going to be one of the few in the country that have superchargers for their fleets,” Steffen said.
