In Terebovlia, in the Ternopil region, the police have received three Tesla electric cars as part of a pilot project on energy independence. The cars were purchased not with public funds, but with money from local businesses. At the same time, three diesel-powered service vehicles previously used by law enforcement officers were handed over to the Ukrainian Defence Forces.
- The Terebovlia police have received three Tesla electric cars.
- The vehicles were purchased using funds provided by local business owners.
- The new vehicles will be used by the rapid response teams and the criminal investigation team.
- Three diesel-powered service vehicles were handed over to the Ukrainian Defence Forces.
Tesla vehicles will be deployed to respond to calls in Terebovlia
Three electric cars have been handed over to Police Station No. 3 in Terebovlia. According to the police, they will be used by patrol police response teams and the investigative and operational unit.
From 1 October, law enforcement officers are due to start responding to calls from local residents in new vehicles. The police explain that the decision to opt for electric vehicles is driven by a desire to reduce fuel and running costs, as well as to ensure they can continue to operate in the event of fuel supply issues.
At the same time, the cost of three Tesla and the years in which they were manufactured were not publicly disclosed. A spokesperson for the Ternopil Regional Police Serhiy Kreta ZAXID.NET reported that the vehicles were purchased by local businesspeople who wished to remain anonymous.
The old diesel vehicles were handed over to the military
An important detail of the project is that three diesel-powered vehicles, which had previously been in service with this unit, were handed over To the Defence Forces of Ukraine. Therefore, the claim that the police simply purchased expensive electric cars instead of supporting the armed forces does not reflect the full context: according to the police, the Teslas were funded by private businesses, whilst the previous service vehicles were allocated to defence needs.
Why does the police need an energy independence project?
Tesla is just part of a larger pilot project. At the Terebovlia police station, the electrical wiring is being upgraded and a solar power station is being installed. According to the police’s calculations, this should reduce electricity consumption by approximately 65% and save around 400,000 hryvnias a year.
To increase the building’s self-sufficiency, there are also plans to install inverters and rechargeable batteries. The entire pilot project is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2026.
