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Anaheim PD launches pilot for Tesla Model Y LR police cruisers
The Anaheim Police Department has officially launched its pilot program to test six Tesla Model Y vehicles as patrol cars, after photos of the outfitted cruisers were spotted last week.
On Monday, the department held a joint media event with Unplugged Performance to showcase the Tesla Model Y Long Range police units, in addition to the two parties both sharing brief videos about the pilot program. The Model Y police cruisers were outfitted by Unplugged Performance’s UP.FIT government and fleet division, with the pilot set to determine how reliable the vehicles are as patrol cars, and how cost-effective they are.
“Congrats to AnaheimPD on today’s announcement,” wrote Unplugged Performance in a post on X. “Choosing an UP.FIT Tesla provides best-in-class officer safety, driving performance, and the lowest total cost of ownership. We’re excited about this pilot program and the opportunity to create a better future together.”
You can see a roughly two-minute video of the vehicles below, as shared in a separate post from UP.
Today, @AnaheimPD debuted https://t.co/rNYFJLu8sJ Tesla Model Y police vehicles with a new pilot program. Officer safety is number one and these are the safest vehicles ever deployed. They're also the highest performing while representing the lowest total cost of ownership. We're… pic.twitter.com/Bb3NaVuuvx
— UNPLUGGED PERFORMANCE (@UnpluggedTesla) April 15, 2024
During the initial testing period, the Model Y units will only be driven for one patrol shift, or about 12.5 hours per day. The second phase of testing will include launching the electric vehicles (EVs) 24 hours a day, at which point the department says it will utilize Tesla Superchargers to charge when necessary during patrol shifts.
There are also Level 2 EV chargers at the Anaheim police station and at the agency’s public works headquarters, and they plan to use both of these locations to charge during initial testing.
“Because this is a pilot program, we do not want to make an infrastructure investment (in superchargers) until we know how the vehicles will perform and if they are something we want to fully integrate into our fleet,” Sergeant Jacob Gallacher told Teslarati in an email.
Below are a few additional photos of the Model Y police cruisers, courtesy of Unplugged Performance.
Credit: Unplugged Performance / Anaheim Police Department
Credit: Unplugged Performance / Anaheim Police Department
The City of Anaheim shared an official press release announcing the program on Friday, noting that it purchased the vehicles from Tesla’s available inventory. The department also says the Tesla EVs, initially spotted during a photoshoot last week, were selected in part due to a shortage of vehicles and a need to replace old vehicles as quickly as possible.
The Model Y was also chosen due to its advanced features, rapid acceleration, large amount of storage capacity, affordability, and low maintenance requirements, all of which the department says are crucial for police operations. The agency will use results from the pilot to help determine future decisions as it begins introducing EVs into the fleet.
The news of the pilot program was also shared by Tesla’s North America account on X on Monday, after the company said in February that its standard tech could save police departments over $4,000.
Police departments around the world have been testing out Tesla’s vehicles as patrol cars in the last few years. Recently, Unplugged Performance’s UP.FIT program also outfitted police cruisers in South Pasadena, California, following the city’s announcement last year that it would replace its entire fleet with Tesla EVs.
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Elon Musk
SpaceX issues statement on Starship V3 Booster 18 anomaly
The incident unfolded during gas-system pressure testing at the company’s Massey facility in Starbase, Texas.
SpaceX has issued an initial statement about Starship Booster 18’s anomaly early Friday. The incident unfolded during gas-system pressure testing at the company’s Massey facility in Starbase, Texas.
SpaceX’s initial comment
As per SpaceX in a post on its official account on social media platform X, Booster 18 was undergoing gas system pressure tests when the anomaly happened. Despite the nature of the incident, the company emphasized that no propellant was loaded, no engines were installed, and personnel were kept at a safe distance from the booster, resulting in zero injuries.
“Booster 18 suffered an anomaly during gas system pressure testing that we were conducting in advance of structural proof testing. No propellant was on the vehicle, and engines were not yet installed. The teams need time to investigate before we are confident of the cause. No one was injured as we maintain a safe distance for personnel during this type of testing. The site remains clear and we are working plans to safely reenter the site,” SpaceX wrote in its post on X.
Incident and aftermath
Livestream footage from LabPadre showed Booster 18’s lower half crumpling around the liquid oxygen tank area at approximately 4:04 a.m. CT. Subsequent images posted by on-site observers revealed extensive deformation across the booster’s lower structure. Needless to say, spaceflight observers have noted that Booster 18 would likely be a complete loss due to its anomaly.
Booster 18 had rolled out only a day earlier and was one of the first vehicles in the Starship V3 program. The V3 series incorporates structural reinforcements and reliability upgrades intended to prepare Starship for rapid-reuse testing and eventual tower-catch operations. Elon Musk has been optimistic about Starship V3, previously noting on X that the spacecraft might be able to complete initial missions to Mars.
Investor's Corner
Tesla analyst maintains $500 PT, says FSD drives better than humans now
The team also met with Tesla leaders for more than an hour to discuss autonomy, chip development, and upcoming deployment plans.
Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) received fresh support from Piper Sandler this week after analysts toured the Fremont Factory and tested the company’s latest Full Self-Driving software. The firm reaffirmed its $500 price target, stating that FSD V14 delivered a notably smooth robotaxi demonstration and may already perform at levels comparable to, if not better than, average human drivers.
The team also met with Tesla leaders for more than an hour to discuss autonomy, chip development, and upcoming deployment plans.
Analysts highlight autonomy progress
During more than 75 minutes of focused discussions, analysts reportedly focused on FSD v14’s updates. Piper Sandler’s team pointed to meaningful strides in perception, object handling, and overall ride smoothness during the robotaxi demo.
The visit also included discussions on updates to Tesla’s in-house chip initiatives, its Optimus program, and the growth of the company’s battery storage business. Analysts noted that Tesla continues refining cost structures and capital expenditure expectations, which are key elements in future margin recovery, as noted in a Yahoo Finance report.
Analyst Alexander Potter noted that “we think FSD is a truly impressive product that is (probably) already better at driving than the average American.” This conclusion was strengthened by what he described as a “flawless robotaxi ride to the hotel.”
Street targets diverge on TSLA
While Piper Sandler stands by its $500 target, it is not the highest estimate on the Street. Wedbush, for one, has a $600 per share price target for TSLA stock.
Other institutions have also weighed in on TSLA stock as of late. HSBC reiterated a Reduce rating with a $131 target, citing a gap between earnings fundamentals and the company’s market value. By contrast, TD Cowen maintained a Buy rating and a $509 target, pointing to strong autonomous driving demonstrations in Austin and the pace of software-driven improvements.
Stifel analysts also lifted their price target for Tesla to $508 per share over the company’s ongoing robotaxi and FSD programs.
Elon Musk
SpaceX Starship Version 3 booster crumples in early testing
Photos of the incident’s aftermath suggest that Booster 18 will likely be retired.
SpaceX’s new Starship first-stage booster, Booster 18, suffered major damage early Friday during its first round of testing in Starbase, Texas, just one day after rolling out of the factory.
Based on videos of the incident, the lower section of the rocket booster appeared to crumple during a pressurization test. Photos of the incident’s aftermath suggest that Booster 18 will likely be retired.
Booster test failure
SpaceX began structural and propellant-system verification tests on Booster 18 Thursday night at the Massey’s Test Site, only a few miles from Starbase’s production facilities, as noted in an Ars Technica report. At 4:04 a.m. CT on Friday, a livestream from LabPadre Space captured the booster’s lower half experiencing a sudden destructive event around its liquid oxygen tank section. Post-incident images, shared on X by @StarshipGazer, showed notable deformation in the booster’s lower structure.
Neither SpaceX nor Elon Musk had commented as of Friday morning, but the vehicle’s condition suggests it is likely a complete loss. This is quite unfortunate, as Booster 18 is already part of the Starship V3 program, which includes design fixes and upgrades intended to improve reliability. While SpaceX maintains a rather rapid Starship production line in Starbase, Booster 18 was generally expected to validate the improvements implemented in the V3 program.
Tight deadlines
SpaceX needs Starship boosters and upper stages to begin demonstrating rapid reuse, tower catches, and early operational Starlink missions over the next two years. More critically, NASA’s Artemis program depends on an on-orbit refueling test in the second half of 2026, a requirement for the vehicle’s expected crewed lunar landing around 2028.
While SpaceX is known for diagnosing failures quickly and returning to testing at unmatched speed, losing the newest-generation booster at the very start of its campaign highlights the immense challenge involved in scaling Starship into a reliable, high-cadence launch system. SpaceX, however, is known for getting things done quickly, so it would not be a surprise if the company manages to figure out what happened to Booster 18 in the near future.
SpaceX issues statement on Starship V3 Booster 18 anomaly
Tesla analyst maintains $500 PT, says FSD drives better than humans now
