LAPD going green with 100 BMW i3 electric cars

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- The Los Angeles Police Department is adding 100 electric vehicles to its fleet, making it the greenest law-enforcement agency in the country, city officials said.

Mayor Eric Garcetti and LAPD Chief Charlie Beck drove up to City Hall in a new BMW i3. The fleet was enough to fill up most of the upper floor of the police department's parking structure.

The electric cars bring the city's fleet up to 199, making it the largest municipal electric-battery fleet in the country.

The department is leasing the cars for three years at $359 per month. They won't be used as patrol cars, Beck said, but by detectives and civilian employees.

In addition to the new cars, the downtown parking garage is filled with a charger for each car, which brings the batteries up to full charge within four hours. There are also fast-charge stations that can power the battery up to 80 percent within 20 minutes.

The city said the overall cost per mile for each car should be about half the standard gas car and should be less once solar panels are installed to charge them.