The Langley Police Department is leading the way on Whidbey Island in reducing carbon dioxide emissions with the recent purchase of a Tesla Model Y.

Chief Tavier Wasser shared the good news with the Langley City Council during a meeting last week. The department is doing its part to stay green and added the electric vehicle to its fleet using money from the reserve fund and other funds set aside.

The new car, which still needs to undergo some outfitting before it can hit the streets, came to a total cost of about $60,000, before sales tax.

Wasser explained that recently electric vehicles have become very comparable and competitive with gas-powered vehicles. A sedan would cost the police department somewhere between $35,000 to $45,000, he explained, while an SUV would cost between $39,000 to $55,000.

“I thank you all for allowing us to move in that direction, and also maybe take away some of the stigma that, well, it’s a Tesla, we must have a lot of money, because realistically it’s very comparable and that’s the way the economy is moving,” he said.

At least one council member was thrilled to witness the electric vehicle’s arrival to the Village by the Sea.

“I’m excited about this, and we’re seeing real change in Langley,” Councilmember Craig Cyr said.

Wasser said that moving forward, he does foresee hybrid vehicles being the “bare minimum” for the police department in the future.