Teslas may be a common sight in Irvine, but the police department there just put a new twist on that trend: a Cybertruck police cruiser. And yes, the fact that it stands out is the reason they got it.
The Irvine Police Department says their vehicle is the first of its kind in the country. (LAist could not independently verify this claim, but it checks out.)
Since it was unveiled earlier this week, the police car has turned heads on social media, for a few reasons:
- Some people are pointing out the cost of the vehicle (the MSRP is about $100,000)
- Others have mentioned the public antics of Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, who recently peddled misinformation regarding Hurricane Helene. He also offered “free” internet service to hurricane victims that actually came with a $400 initial equipment cost.
The official Seal Beach Police Department page was here for the feedback, jumping on to say: “We’re just here for ‘my taxpayer dollars’ comments.”
Irvine’s Cybertruck is customized to respond to emergencies and even potential off-road scenarios. However, department officials said you aren’t likely to see the vehicle on regular patrol.
What you get for $150,000
First things first— Cybertrucks aren’t cheap to start with. With added bells and whistles like police lights and other equipment, the total cost of Irvine’s vehicle comes out to roughly $150,000.
If it were used solely as a patrol vehicle, it’d be significantly more expensive than a regular police cruiser, which IPD says costs them over $110,000 each. Even the projected $6,000 in fuel savings over the life of the vehicle won’t be nearly enough to recoup the cost.
But city…
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