The City of Tampa received a federal grant to purchase up to 13 new electric vehicles for the police department.
The new additions to the department’s fleet will be the first in testing eco-friendly options for citywide public safety divisions.
Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw said at a Tuesday press conference that the cars will be a great benefit in reducing the organization's carbon footprint.
"They are faster, the performance is better, and they save us money. The police officers obviously are going to like them — they're silent, you're not going to know when we're approaching because you won't hear an engine sound," Bercaw said.
"There's so many benefits to these cars, and the fact that we're getting a grant for these cars is great."
“This initiative is just one of many we are excited and proud to implement in our city as we move toward a more sustainable future," Mayor Jane Castor said.
“We are immensely grateful for these valuable federal dollars that will help us reduce our carbon footprint, improve air quality, and reduce fuel costs to taxpayers."
Currently, the city of Tampa has 272 alternative fuel vehicles across all departments, or around 13% of its entire fleet.
In the coming weeks, the TPD will select which makes and models of vehicles will serve officers best.
Currently, there’s no set date for when the new vehicles will be introduced on the roads.
