Millions Wasted: LAPD's Fleet Of BMW i3 Aren't Being Used

We know the State of California loves electric cars, but the Los Angeles Police Department may have mixed emotions. Back in June of 2016, the LAPD awarded BMW with a contract to provide 100 battery-powered i3 hatchbacks as part of a plan to enhance its public image. At the time, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti told the press, “We should be thinking green in everything we do,” adding that the electric BMWs would “also save money and resources.”

Fast forward to 2018 and the contract is beginning to look like a good way to waste millions of dollars. The LAPD agreed to lease the vehicles, effectively doubling its electrified fleet, for three years. The logic was that the gas savings would offset the $1.4 million it would cost the police force to apprehend them from BMW. While that sounds wonderful, there is a problem — the LAPD isn’t driving them.

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TheSteve - 1/19/2018 2:11:55 PM

+1 Boost

Still counts as sales for BMW. Just something to keep in mind when reviewing sales numbers for any brand. There are lots of ways to game the system.

MDarringer - 1/19/2018 8:57:39 PM

+5 Boost

Still counts as a waste of taxpayer dollars. But that's how Leftist LA rolls.

skytop - 1/19/2018 11:01:11 PM

+5 Boost

Millions of dollars wasted? Say, that's what wing nut liberals do.
How L.A.P.D conceived the plan to use expensive BMW's EV's is a total mystery. But spending all that money made each liberal feel mighty good, for the moment.

MDarringer - 1/20/2018 10:17:26 AM

0 Boost

That is illogical reasoning. To say "this squandering of taxpayer money isn't an issue because there are bigger criminal wastes of taxpayer money" only obsfucates the issue.

vdiv - 1/20/2018 11:52:52 AM

+1 Boost

Or puts it into perspective. It's not that the i3s are not being used, they just are not being used... much. ;)

The real question is why. Were they really offered to personnel to drive? Were there convenient charging facilities provided? Is the LAPD doing enough community outreach or do they fear of being carjacked?

bw5011 - 1/22/2018 10:20:24 PM

+1 Boost

They are like gocarts... Crazy they didn't go with the volt being US made and engineered. Either way, there is no way i would drive around LA in that thing... The i8 would be a different story.