With an effortless UX, this GPS tracker boasts a truly fuss-free plug-and-play setup, activating the device in just moments. Its easy and intuitive app uniquely allows users to monitor vehicle health by displaying fuel levels, vehicle specs, and battery and engine health. The device also provides a wide range of alert options, including erratic driving, impact detection, curfew, rapid acceleration, hard braking, trip fuel economy, etc. This OBD-connected tracker delivers a long battery life but only reports with the ignition on.

This extremely compact and affordable GPS tracker is technically an automotive device, but it’s easy to keep tabs on a car through Apple’s Find My network. The tracker offers limited features compared to other dedicated GPS units and is largely limited to iOS devices using Apple’s iCloud web interface. Though the subscription-less affordability of the device comes at the expense of alert notifications and more precise tracking features, the fantastic year-long battery life comes as a bonus, with a user-replaceable CR2032 coin cell battery.

This battery-powered tracker is intuitive enough for both fleet-level tracking and personal use. The gadget’s mobile apps and web interface are simple to navigate, though setting up alerts demands a learning curve. The notification options are confusing, but the push outputs are reliable and fast. With an IPX5-compliant design, the GPS tracker device can also handle environmental elements while mounted outside the vehicle. The integrated 2600mAh Li-Po battery provides decent battery life for 7-10 days and up to 25 days in standby mode.

This industrial-grade tracker is ideal for keeping tabs on small and large vehicle fleets, with robust tracking and notification options, a far more detailed back end, and thorough fleet-ready reporting. Though straightforward to set up and turn on, the device’s mobile and online interfaces are comparatively complicated. The extensive reporting options include an impressive range of alert types, like harsh acceleration, braking, and cornering, lost GPS signal, low battery, over-speed, movement, SOS, etc.

Electric vehicles are very much seen as the future of the automotive industry, and it seems one Indiana police department is ahead of the curve. This electric car is already saving one police department thousands of dollars, making its police chief very happy indeed.

Splashing Out

Bargersville Police Chief Todd Bertram decided it would actually make sense to splash out on a Tesla Model 3 for his police department. The chief justified the move by crunching the numbers and spending $41,000 on the Tesla. Although it is 40% more expensive than the department’s Dodge Chargers, Bertram figured it would cut the budget significantly. The low maintenance and fuel costs meant that the Model 3 would be paying for itself sooner rather than later.

Ahead of Schedule

The initial report put together by Bertram’s department estimated the Tesla would begin paying for itself after 24 months. However, the car’s returns are already ahead of schedule just 10 months after it was added to the Bargersville Police Department. Even including the initial outlay of installing the Level 2 charger, the Model 3 continues to save the PD money. While other factors such as heating and air conditioning are in play, Bertram certainly isn’t regretting the decision to go electric.

Amazing Savings

Chief Bertram noted in an interview that the savings his department made in just one vehicle could be scaled up. He explained that by replacing his entire fleet of patrol cars with electric cars, his department could save enough to hire two new officers. Those officers would arrive without having to cut any costs other than the type of vehicle Bertram’s police department uses.

The Bargersville Police Department is reportedly planning to release its exact savings later in 2020. It hopes that the amazing figures might encourage more police departments to follow suit and invest in electric patrol vehicles to save money.