From Skeptic to Advocate: Georgia Police Chief Leads Electrification Charge

The Avondale Estates, Georgia, police department realized monthly savings after adopting EVs.

Avondale Estates, Georgia, may be just eight miles east of Atlanta’s bustling city center, but its unique Tudor-Revival architecture and storied history paint a picture of a quieter past. While the town is quaint—at 3,600 residents and 1.26 square miles—it hasn’t shied away from progress.?

In August 2022, the?Avondale Estates police department?began transitioning to?electric police vehicles, and today, four of the 17 vehicles in the all-Ford fleet are electric. “We have one F-150? Lightning? truck and three Mustang? Mach-E? SUVs, which we use as administrative vehicles,” said Police Chief Harry Hess.

The electric vehicles (EVs) quickly proved to be a worthy investment. Between September 2022 and May 2024, Hess says the department saved nearly 2,790 gallons of gas and 19.87 tons of CO2 and continues to see monthly savings in running the vehicles. For example, the department spent approximately $200 less on energy costs in April 2024 when comparing gas and charging. “In April, we would’ve spent $651 [on gas], but our power bill for the EV charging stations that month was only $432.”

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