Unplugged Performance makes some amazing performance upgrades for Teslas and other EVs. One of their most recent programs is UP.FIT - where they equip Tesla vehicles for police duty.
Law enforcement agencies have highly specific requirements and the UP.FIT program is designed not only to meet those requirements but exceed them. EVs also come with the additional benefits of reducing maintenance, repairs, and fuel costs.
And UP.FIT isn’t just for run-of-the-mill policing, Unplugged Performance also provides upfitted Tesla vehicles, including the Cybertruck, tailored for specialized roles such as tactical and defense applications. Let’s take a look at what real police officers think too.
“The difference is absolutely staggering. I don’t want to go back to this [ICE car] now.”
Hands-On With Teslas
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Police officers from eight different departments in California had the opportunity to participate in a unique event at an Emergency Vehicle Operators Course (EVOC) facility. Law enforcement agencies in North America and Europe are beginning to look at EVs more often, and finding a properly up-fitted EV for police work can be a challenge.
“I’ve never driven one until today, I have a different mindset here at 2:00 than I did at 6 a.m. this morning. I was not necessarily sold, but I am now.”
Unplugged Performance let these officers get hands-on with the Model Y Performance, and compare it to the industry-standard Ford Explorer PIU edition. They also got a chance to see some of the other UP.FIT lineup, including the Model S Plaid Interceptor and Cybertruck Patrol Vehicle.
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Reactions
The best part of this was the honest, real reactions from the officers who were trying out modified Teslas on the EVOC track.
“I might go buy one now!”
“I’m thoroughly impressed by how it handled and performed. It’s kind of made a believer out of me.”
“First time driving an electric car… The difference between the [Tesla and Ford] is staggering… I didn’t want to be in the Explorer anymore.”
Several comments talked about the handling of the vehicles - how fun they were to drive, how tight they cornered, and how fast they accelerated. They also mentioned that because of that performance - these cars were able to do things that the Ford Explorer just isn’t capable of.
And when doing simulated chases - our favorite comment “It’s like you don’t even have to try!”
Another fun data point that elicited some great reactions was the battery usage of the cars. The Teslas arrived at around 97% state of charge at 6 am, and at 2 pm, the cars still had about 55-60% of the battery left.
You can watch the entire video from Unplugged Performance below.
Teslas Just Make Sense
At the end of the day, the thing is, Teslas - and EVs in general - just make sense for patrol vehicles. Officers can leave the heat or AC running the entire time without having to idle an engine. EVs also perform far better than their ICE equivalents, and they reduce maintenance and fuel costs massively - especially when you can just charge a whole fleet of patrol vehicles overnight.
Many police officers have commented online and mentioned how they burn massive amounts of gas just idling away with their vehicles, which just continuously burns fuel and increases wear and tear on the thousands of components in an ICE vehicle.
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On top of that, this sold individual people - not just as officers but as consumers - on the idea of Teslas and EVs. Putting butts in seats in important, and it’s one of the best ways to convince naysayers that the future is already here.
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MotorTrend is running their suite of Best Tech of 2025 - and the winner that took home the Best Tech for Public Charging System is none other than Tesla’s North American Charging Standard - better known as NACS or the Tesla Plug.
What is NACS?
NACS is Tesla’s home-grown connector standard - and is now the standard in North America. Tesla opened the connector standard back in November 2022, inviting other automakers to collaborate on a better and easier-to-use charging standard.
At that time, CCS was rapidly gaining traction as the industry standard, but Teslas remained the most common EV on the road. This put Tesla in a unique position to establish a new standard in North America, where the Tesla connector was the most popular.
SAE Standard
After Tesla opened up its connector, the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) swiftly adopted it, naming it the J3400 EV Coupler. The SAE initiated the process in June 2023, with the validation phase concluding in October, alongside the release of the J3400 Recommended Practices document, officially establishing NACS as the industry standard in North America.
While a few holdouts, such as Volkswagen and Stellantis, initially hesitated to embrace NACS, they soon came on board. Today, no major automaker selling vehicles in North America plans to use CCS for their future EVs.
Why is NACS Better?
NACS is an innovative charging standard that outperforms both CCS1 and CCS2 (the EU’s version) in almost every way. The system is lighter, more user-friendly, and more versatile, offering better thermal efficiency than comparable CCS systems. Additionally, the handle and plug are designed to be more ergonomic and streamlined, making them easier to use and far less cumbersome.
Differences Between CCS1 and CCS2
The CCS1 charging standard in North America combines the J1772 connector for AC charging with separate pins for DC fast charging. However, it differs drastically from CCS2, which is used in Europe. CCS2 features a more compact design and allows digital communication for both AC and DC charging. It also supports higher power than CCS1.
Technically Better
NACS was designed out of necessity back in 2012 when there wasn’t a connector that met Tesla’s needs for the original Model S. As it turns out, it remains far superior to the charging standards created by legacy automakers today, who were more concerned with having a simple plug-in port than the efficiency and quality of the charging process itself.
Unlike CCS1 or J1772, which use analog communication when charging over AC power, NACS relies on digital communication, regardless of whether it’s charging the vehicle over AC or DC power. This enables better and more reliable information exchange during the charging process. In contrast, analog systems like CCS1 can run into issues—such as ground faults—that may leave your EV bricked without an explanation since data isn’t transmitted the same way.
With NACS, however, any issues can be diagnosed on either the vehicle side or the Supercharger side. If you’re interested - open up Service Mode while plugged into your Wall or Mobile Connector, or while at a Supercharger - and take a peek at the Charging Pane.
Ultimately, NACS offers improved diagnostics and testing, a more intuitive cable and interface, and the best part is that it can support up to 1,000V charging without major changes. Plus, it works seamlessly with both residential two-phase and commercial three-phase power without requiring major alterations to the connector format—unlike CCS1 and CCS2, which uses separate connectors for AC and DC charging.
Improved Communications
We’ve already discussed how digital communication enables effective debugging, but it also plays a crucial role in streamlining the payment process for charging. This is how Tesla makes its Supercharging experience so effortless. When you plug in your vehicle, it communicates directly with the Supercharger and Tesla’s servers. Your payment is automatically processed through the payment method linked to your Tesla profile, making the entire process seamless.
In contrast, with most CCS1 chargers, the process is the reverse. While Plug-and-Charge is a standard, it’s not always fully or reliably implemented. When you arrive at a CCS1 charger, you often need to plug in your EV, fumble with an app or the screen and hope the charging post is working properly before you can proceed.
Here’s a list of automakers that have either pledged to begin using NACS - usually by their 2025 or 2026 model year - or have already incorporated it. Many of these companies also offer adapters, and can also use Tesla’s Magic Dock-equipped Superchargers.
Any companies in parentheses represent a sub-brand of the parent company that has also committed to the NACS connector.
And that’s it—NACS has won the EV charging standards race in North America. If you’re in Europe, you’re using the CCS2 connector, which is superior to the CCS1 connector offered in North America. China has its own relatively novel connector standard, but it still differentiates between DC and AC plugs, unlike NACS, which keeps things simpler.
Tesla’s autonomous robotaxi made a big impact last year at the We, Robot event in October, sparking plenty of questions about when, where, and how production would begin. Well, it looks like we finally have some answers to these questions thanks to new Cybercab-related job openings.
Engineering Roles
Tesla is actively recruiting engineers to focus on various aspects of the Cybercab’s production. One of the key positions is for an equipment engineer, responsible for developing the machinery that will be used to build the Cybercab. Designing and implementing the assembly line is crucial, especially with Tesla’s ambition to manufacture thousands of Cybercabs in the near future.
Unboxed Production Process
Tesla plans to produce the Cybercab using its revolutionary “unboxed” process, which stands in stark contrast to traditional car manufacturing methods. Unlike typical assembly lines that build vehicles from the floor up, the unboxed process involves constructing vehicle sections in parallel and bringing those parts together for final assembly. This method increases the number of engineers that can work on the vehicle at once and increases accessibility for works and robots, allowing the vehicle to be manufactured more efficiently.
Tesla shows off the unboxed process in the vehicle below:
The Unboxed process 🧵 Tesla model Y is used in this video as a placeholder to explain the process without spoiling the actual next gen vehicle pic.twitter.com/onCPeNCduB
A crucial part of the Cybercab’s production will be handled by a new process engineer specializing in plastics. This engineer will focus on the exterior plastic panels, working alongside a tool & die specialist. The reason for this specialized role is likely due to the Cybercab’s unique use of paint-impregnated plastic for its exterior panels, which requires different processes and tooling than Tesla’s typical vehicle exteriors.
Tesla’s VP of Vehicle Engineering, Lars Moravy, shared that the company will be injecting polyurethane paint directly into the plastic during the manufacturing process. This method eliminates the need for a traditional paint shop, as the colors are embedded directly into the plastic while the panels are molded. The best part is that these panels are highly resilient—if they get scratched, dinged, or worn down, the original color remains visible throughout, unlike standard painted panels, which would reveal the underlying material.
Technicians
To implement these new engineering practices, Tesla is also hiring various technicians for the assembly line. These include specialists in plastics, general assembly, and the Giga Press, all of whom will play key roles in bringing the Cybercab to life.
According to the Q4 2024 Earnings Call, the Cybercab’s assembly line is not expected to launch until late 2025 or early 2026. Building such an innovative assembly line is no small feat, and it’s clear Tesla is laying the groundwork for something special.
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