Elon Musk unveiled Tesla’s latest technology Thursday night, saying of his sleek Cybercab robotaxis and a prototype of his new electric van that “the future should look like the future.”
However, today, California police departments are beginning to regret the decision to replace their fleets with Tesla Y models. Although it is climate friendly (preparing departments for a zero emissions future – It turns out that Teslas pose many other challenges, according to SFGate Interviews with three Northern California police chiefs.
Once modified, for example, the car’s back seat is too small for more than one passenger, and the front seat too narrow for officers. Bosses also cite “autopilot interference” when attempting to leave the road; They say reliance on unsecured charging stations makes officers vulnerable when it comes to transporting suspects long distances; and keep in mind that in a shooting, police are taught to hide behind the engine block of a car. With electric vehicles, that’s not an option.