Palo Alto Police Department is the latest police force to add an EV to its fleet after snapping up the first-ever Rivian R1S police cruiser.
Rivian, which has a manufacturing plant in Palo Alto, released the off-road R1S SUV in 2022.
Since its launch, the R1S has earned itself a solid reputation for being tough and reliable.
So, it’s an ideal choice for a police vehicle.
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It’s the first Rivian R1S police cruiser in the world
Police departments across the United States have been introducing EVs to their fleets, including the South Pasadena Police Department, which rolled out 20 Teslas last summer, and the Michigan State Police Department, which opted for a 2025 Ford Mustang Mach-E.
While Fords and Teslas appear to be top picks for police forces in the US, Palo Alto PD has bucked the trend and gone for the very first Rivian R1S police cruiser.
Unlike some police vehicles, the R1S sports an understated look with black gloss paint finished with white doors and trim.
The Palo Alto PD badge is branded across the sides and the vehicle will eventually get a blue and red light bar for its roof.
Captain James Reifschneider told Palo Alto Online that although the purchase has been made it will be a while before the Rivian R1S police cruiser will be ready for action.
The Rivian is a solid choice for a police vehicle
This might be the first police cruiser we’ve seen from Rivian, but the EV is a pretty perfect fit for a police vehicle.
Captain Reifschneider said the new cruiser will be able to hit a top speed of around 130mph and that it offers more room inside than the Ford Explorers and Jeep Durangos the PAPD currently uses.
The decision to use a locally-built EV was also praised by Palo Alto Mayor Ed Lauing.
“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,” he said during the annual State of the City presentation.
“That sounds a lot like Palo Alto to me because Palo Alto is a great place to live and work and shop and play and go to school and that isn’t enough.
“We’re always looking to be more innovative going forward and to make our place in Palo Alto even better.”
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