LAPD's BMW i3 fleet sits unused, misused
01-18-18, 05:01 PM
#1
LAPD's BMW i3 fleet sits unused, misused
Should of bought them Mitsubishi Mi-EV's instead, at least they'd be cheaper than an i3 
http://cbsloc.al/2DaHUUs
Source
http://cbsloc.al/2DaHUUs
According to a report from CBS Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Police Department spent $10 million to go green with a fleet of BMW i3 electric cars. CBS's David Goldstein's investigation finds, though, that many of those cars sit unused, while others are used for personal errands.
CBS scoured department records, and found a number of vehicles that are sitting unused, with very low mileage on them. In the video above, Goldstein follows an LAPD commander driving one of the i3 EVs, and confronts her when she leaves a nail salon. "This is part of a million-dollar pilot program," he says. "You're really supposed to get a manicure using the BMWs?"
Her reply: "I have no comment at this time."
BMW won the $10.2 million contract to provide the cars in the LAPD's effort to go green. As part of the contract, the LAPD leases the cars from BMW, taking delivery of one hundred cars every year for three years. They're supposed to be used for non-emergency, administrative police business.
"It's all a part of saving the Earth," said LAPD Deputy Chief Jorge Villegas, "going green ... quite frankly, to try and save money for the community and the taxpayers."
Deputy Chief Villegas told Goldstein he'd look into CBS's findings, but that he considers the program a success, and hopes EVs find more use.
CBS scoured department records, and found a number of vehicles that are sitting unused, with very low mileage on them. In the video above, Goldstein follows an LAPD commander driving one of the i3 EVs, and confronts her when she leaves a nail salon. "This is part of a million-dollar pilot program," he says. "You're really supposed to get a manicure using the BMWs?"
Her reply: "I have no comment at this time."
BMW won the $10.2 million contract to provide the cars in the LAPD's effort to go green. As part of the contract, the LAPD leases the cars from BMW, taking delivery of one hundred cars every year for three years. They're supposed to be used for non-emergency, administrative police business.
"It's all a part of saving the Earth," said LAPD Deputy Chief Jorge Villegas, "going green ... quite frankly, to try and save money for the community and the taxpayers."
Deputy Chief Villegas told Goldstein he'd look into CBS's findings, but that he considers the program a success, and hopes EVs find more use.
01-18-18, 05:52 PM
#3
Lexus Champion
they would do well as parking enforcement vehicles, currently they are running around L.A. in 2000- 2004 year old Civics, S-10 Pickups, and Malibu's for parking enforcement.
One has to believe the i3 would be much more practical than 17 year old vehicles that get maybe 15mpg as a parking enforcement vehicle, seeing as then seldom get over 10mph and idle all day long.
One has to believe the i3 would be much more practical than 17 year old vehicles that get maybe 15mpg as a parking enforcement vehicle, seeing as then seldom get over 10mph and idle all day long.
01-18-18, 05:58 PM
#4
Lexus Fanatic
I'd also make a strong guess (but probably not enough to bet money on LOL) that the effective cruising-range of those i3s is not up to police standards. A police car does no good if it can't get to the scene of a bank robbery because it's plugged-in, being recharged.
Last edited by mmarshall; 01-18-18 at 06:01 PM.
01-18-18, 06:12 PM
#5
Mitsu's position is too perilous, right now, in the American market. I don't think the LAPD (or city council, if they approved the sale) would want to take a chance with a company that may soon pack up and head back to Japan. Of course, we've been staying that now for the last 5 years LOL.
I'd also make a strong guess (but probably not enough to bet money on LOL) that the effective cruising-range of those i3s is not up to police standards. A police car does no good if it can't get to the scene of a bank robbery because it's plugged-in, being recharged.
I'd also make a strong guess (but probably not enough to bet money on LOL) that the effective cruising-range of those i3s is not up to police standards. A police car does no good if it can't get to the scene of a bank robbery because it's plugged-in, being recharged.
01-18-18, 06:30 PM
#6
Lexus Fanatic
01-18-18, 07:47 PM
#7
so they spend $34000 per car every year.
a $34000 yearly lease.
for a car that costs $45000.
That's like $2800 per month. And even if it's all inclusive, it's still a frickin rip off.
Collecting taxes is like a free ticket to spend frivolously. I always wonder why they never hire bargain hunters and smart shoppers.
bmw is laughing all the way to the bank.
Unless I misread that, and they lease an extra 100 cars every year, to have a final fleet of 300 i3's.
Then the lease would be $1416 per month. which is still a gargantuan rip off.
But I highly doubt they would maintain a fleet of 300.
So most likely they're paying $2800 per month for the 100 cars.
a $34000 yearly lease.
for a car that costs $45000.
That's like $2800 per month. And even if it's all inclusive, it's still a frickin rip off.
Collecting taxes is like a free ticket to spend frivolously. I always wonder why they never hire bargain hunters and smart shoppers.
bmw is laughing all the way to the bank.
Unless I misread that, and they lease an extra 100 cars every year, to have a final fleet of 300 i3's.
Then the lease would be $1416 per month. which is still a gargantuan rip off.
But I highly doubt they would maintain a fleet of 300.
So most likely they're paying $2800 per month for the 100 cars.
Last edited by pman6; 01-18-18 at 08:00 PM.
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01-18-18, 08:15 PM
#9
I just watched the CBS video.
The monthly lease is $418.
if you do the math,
For a fixed fleet of 100, that's $501k per year, $1.5M after 3 years.
For an incremental fleet of 300, that's $3M after 3 years.
Chargers are included, and presumably maintenance too.
But that still doesn't account for the $7 million left over.
Are the city's expenses public information? There should be transparency when tax dollars are spent.
Our LA county sales tax went up at least 0.75% in recent years, all to be wasted on crap like this.
The monthly lease is $418.
if you do the math,
For a fixed fleet of 100, that's $501k per year, $1.5M after 3 years.
For an incremental fleet of 300, that's $3M after 3 years.
Chargers are included, and presumably maintenance too.
But that still doesn't account for the $7 million left over.
Are the city's expenses public information? There should be transparency when tax dollars are spent.
Our LA county sales tax went up at least 0.75% in recent years, all to be wasted on crap like this.
Last edited by pman6; 01-18-18 at 08:18 PM.
01-19-18, 02:01 AM
#10
Lexus Test Driver
Not surprised about the BMW's. Los Angeles and CA is so poorly run now. My business deals mostly with retiring baby boomers, and nearly all of them want to move away once they retire. Out with the hard-working good people and in with the not so good gimme gimme gimme folks. See where the state and future votes are going as the turnover continues.
But back to cars for the city. Most parking enforcement Honda Civics are hybrids, so they are getting excellent mileage. I agree, they are very old though. The rest of the fleet are newer Prius's, which also get great mileage at low speeds/idle. The balance are new Jeep Wranglers, which makes absolutely zero sense for a parking enforcement vehicle.
But back to cars for the city. Most parking enforcement Honda Civics are hybrids, so they are getting excellent mileage. I agree, they are very old though. The rest of the fleet are newer Prius's, which also get great mileage at low speeds/idle. The balance are new Jeep Wranglers, which makes absolutely zero sense for a parking enforcement vehicle.
01-19-18, 04:56 AM
#11
Not surprised about the BMW's. Los Angeles and CA is so poorly run now. My business deals mostly with retiring baby boomers, and nearly all of them want to move away once they retire. Out with the hard-working good people and in with the not so good gimme gimme gimme folks. See where the state and future votes are going as the turnover continues.
But back to cars for the city. Most parking enforcement Honda Civics are hybrids, so they are getting excellent mileage. I agree, they are very old though. The rest of the fleet are newer Prius's, which also get great mileage at low speeds/idle. The balance are new Jeep Wranglers, which makes absolutely zero sense for a parking enforcement vehicle.
But back to cars for the city. Most parking enforcement Honda Civics are hybrids, so they are getting excellent mileage. I agree, they are very old though. The rest of the fleet are newer Prius's, which also get great mileage at low speeds/idle. The balance are new Jeep Wranglers, which makes absolutely zero sense for a parking enforcement vehicle.
01-19-18, 06:43 AM
#12
Lexus Fanatic
I get that CA is much different than the USA, but at the same time, one would expect the purchasing dept to a) get the best product for the money b) support domestic cos. whenever possible
I see Federal govt. cars that are Sonatas. Again, I understand that maybe they have a lower cost of ownership, more reliable, and assembled in the US. But somehow one would have expected a domestic co. to have been awarded the fleet.
Sometimes imho govt. does waste in very ostentatious ways. Like they don't care. Ford Raptors in CT?
I see Federal govt. cars that are Sonatas. Again, I understand that maybe they have a lower cost of ownership, more reliable, and assembled in the US. But somehow one would have expected a domestic co. to have been awarded the fleet.
Sometimes imho govt. does waste in very ostentatious ways. Like they don't care. Ford Raptors in CT?
01-19-18, 09:22 AM
#14
Lexus Champion
Mitsu's position is too perilous, right now, in the American market. I don't think the LAPD (or city council, if they approved the sale) would want to take a chance with a company that may soon pack up and head back to Japan. Of course, we've been staying that now for the last 5 years LOL.
I'd also make a strong guess (but probably not enough to bet money on LOL) that the effective cruising-range of those i3s is not up to police standards. A police car does no good if it can't get to the scene of a bank robbery because it's plugged-in, being recharged.
I'd also make a strong guess (but probably not enough to bet money on LOL) that the effective cruising-range of those i3s is not up to police standards. A police car does no good if it can't get to the scene of a bank robbery because it's plugged-in, being recharged.
they are used for things like driving to court, meetings, forensic collection, etc..
01-19-18, 05:55 PM
#15
i wish governments would save money so that they can collect less tax from us.
If I understand correctly, even schools that get government funds need to spend their allotted funds, or risk getting fewer to no funds in the future.
So what they do is buy expensive ipads and overkill tech just so they can use up all the dollars.
This cycle of waste is costing us.
If I understand correctly, even schools that get government funds need to spend their allotted funds, or risk getting fewer to no funds in the future.
So what they do is buy expensive ipads and overkill tech just so they can use up all the dollars.
This cycle of waste is costing us.