Brookhaven Tesla put to the test

Police consider 100-percent electric vehicle platform

Testing the Tesla at GPSTC.  From left:  Police Chief Gary Yandura, GPSTC Executive Director Chris Wigginton, and Mayor John Ernst.

Brookhaven, GA, June 26, 2019 --- The City of Brookhaven took another step toward determining the viability of an all-electric police fleet as a prototype Tesla was field-tested on Tuesday, June 25, at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center (GPSTC) in Forsyth, GA.  The vehicle was tested on two performance tracks, one designed for high-speed emergency response and the other for urban emergency response.  Overall, the vehicle performed well under rigorous testing.

The City purchased a previously-owned 2015 Tesla Model S in March.  The testing of the Tesla under strenuous conditions on a track is one phase of determining the vehicle’s overall viability as a police patrol car.  The prototype will now be evaluated in the field in the City of Brookhaven for 90 days.  If the inaugural Tesla performs well, it is possible that over time all City vehicles will be replaced with electric cars, but not necessarily Tesla.

“The Tesla Model S only had 22,000 miles on it, comes with a 100,000 mile/eight-year warranty, and we got it at a reasonable $45,000; saving taxpayer dollars by using confiscated drug funds,” said Brookhaven City Manager Christian Sigman. “I don’t know of any other city this side of the Mississippi that is testing an electric vehicle platform for patrol vehicles. Other cities have electric cars for administrative purposes, but we would be the first to use them for law enforcement patrol operations.”

The public was given a sneak preview of the Tesla at the Brookhaven Cherry Blossom Festival in March.

The renewed focus on developing environmental, financial and organizational policies in 2019 is collectively referred to as Sustainable Brookhaven.  Other Sustainable Brookhaven initiatives include additional electric car charging stations in the City Hall parking lot and similar stations installed in the recently renovated Skyland and Blackburn parks. Plans call for additional charging stations to be added at other City locations. On new construction projects, infrastructure for charging stations will be installed in parking areas, such as the new Public Safety building, currently under design.

“We are always looking for ways to reduce our impact on the environment and conserve resources for future generations,” added Mayor Ernst.

Brookhaven Officer Ashley Gilham at checks out the prototype following a run through the urban emergency response course.