PALO ALTO, Calif. — The Palo Alto Police Department added a Rivian electric vehicle to its patrol fleet, KRON4 reported.
The electric SUV, which began patrol duties in August, is fully outfitted with police equipment and will be assigned to a patrol supervisor for 12-hour shifts, according to the report. It features rapid acceleration, a key performance metric often scrutinized in police vehicle operations.
“There is among some people a misperception that EVs are slow or that they lack acceleration,” Assistant Chief James Reifschneider told KRON4. “It’s actually far from the case… we’re pretty confident that it will perform as needed if it had to in a pursuit.”
The vehicle includes exterior-mounted cameras offering nearly 360 degrees of visibility, designed to complement existing technologies such as body-worn cameras.
The Rivian’s 300-mile range has raised some concerns about charging limitations compared to traditional gas-powered vehicles, which often operate around the clock. However, police say the EV’s intended 12-hour use per shift should minimize disruptions due to recharging.
Palo Alto Police currently operate six hybrid patrol vehicles and plan to add more electric models in future fleet updates.
