In spring of last year, the Los Angeles Police Department shunned the idea of using the Tesla electric car as a patrol car. The Tesla Model S, an electric car with a hefty price tag, was rejected by the LAPD who made it clear that they did not want to invest so much money in a patrol car.

The LAPD has, however, had a change of heart and have ordered one sedan from Tesla.

Tesla and LAPD technicians are reportedly working together to fit the car with the required equipment like radios, computer, a custody cage, and also a locking shotgun rack among other features. After the car is ready, it will be tested out in real-life scenarios.

The LAPD has previously worked with electric cars like the BMW i3s, but those cars do not compare well against the super specs of a Tesla Model S. The i3s has a relatively shorter range or mileage and it is relatively smaller.

The Tesla Model S, on the other hand, boasts of searing fast speed and also has high mileage. From a realistic point of view, it is obvious that the LAPD will not be able to own and maintain a fleet of Model S cars because of the hefty price it carries. A fully fledged patrol sedan with all the desired equipment installed could cost the department around $47,500, while the cheapest Tesla--the 60D--retails for $66,000 excluding all the incentives.