Rivian Police Cruiser Nears Debut For Palo Alto Police Department: Could EV Company Gain Fleet Customers?

Electric vehicle company Rivian Automotive RIVN could see new orders for police vehicles come through with the Palo Alto police department set to debut a patrol-ready R1S.

The news comes as Rivian is looking to lure new fleet customers for its electric delivery vans.

What Happened: For years, Tesla has been able to land fleet deals with municipalities and police departments. It took deals from traditional auto companies like Ford and General Motors with its cost savings on gas and maintenance.

Rivian recently landed an EV deal of its own thanks to its patrol-ready R1S. As reported by Electrek, the company’s first police vehicle boasts a range of up to 410 miles and 850 horsepower. It can also fit seven people and go from zero to 60 mph in 2.6 seconds.

The R1S can also drive through 3.5 feet of water and reach a speed of 130 miles per hour.

Palo Alto Mayor Ed Lauing showed off the vehicle during his "State of the City" speech last week. The vehicle is expected to make its debut on the streets soon after some adjustments are made.

Why It's Important: Lauing highlighted the vision of Rivian and how it compares to the city of Palo Alto during his speech.

"The electric car was created years before Rivian first shipped their EV, but Rivian wanted to be the best EV in the future, not the first EV of the past. That sounds a lot like Palo Alto to me," Lauing said, as reported by Palo Alto Online.

Lauing said Rivian has "relentless technical innovation."

The mayor's positive comments about Rivian ahead of the police department debut could help the EV company land more deals in the future. One of the key highlights from the mayor was how there was more interior space inside the R1S than Ford Explorer and Jeep Durango police vehicles the department is currently using.

Some police departments were reportedly skeptical about switching to EVs due to lower interior space.

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