The radical Tesla Cybertruck is never far from the headlines. Now the electric pick-up is ready to enlist with North American police forces.
California-based Up.Fit has established a business converting Tesla vehicles for police use. And its latest project is the Cybertruck.
The company has created the ‘world’s first Tesla Cybertruck patrol vehicle’, designed for use by public safety officials in the United States and beyond.
‘An epic tactical vehicle’
The Up.Fit Tesla Cybertruck Next-Gen Patrol (to use its full title) is described as the ‘most epic tactical vehicle on earth’.
Its credentials include serious performance from the Cybertruck’s electric powertrain, along with the option to fit NIJ level three ballistics protection body armour.
These body panels can withstand 7.62mm FMJ lead-core rifle ammunition. This means the modified Cybertruck could potentially be used by SWAT and other tactical teams.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk infamously claimed that the standard Cybertruck would be bulletproof. Up.Fit clearly puts more faith in armoured protection, however, which it already fits to other Tesla products.
A leap into the future
“The Up.Fit Cybertruck Next-Gen Patrol vehicle represents a significant engineering leap into the future. We’re excited to offer law enforcement agencies the future of policing,” said Ben Schaffer, CEO of Unplugged Performance – responsible for Up.Fit’s work.
“We’ve been thrilled with the direct feedback from police departments that have participated in our Cybertruck development. We look forward to deploying these complete Up.Fit vehicles to law enforcement agencies across the nation this year.”
A number of police forces throughout the UK have tested Tesla EVs for fleet use, with the Model 3 and Model Y the most popular candidates.
The Cybertruck is unlikely to be road-legal on this side of the Atlantic without major modifications to its design. Nonetheless, Tesla is currently taking a Cybertruck on tour throughout the UK and Ireland.
