Only a handful of models are typically used as police cars, usually big sedans and SUVs from the Detroit Three carmakers.

But the Los Angeles Police Department is getting creative with some new additions to its fleet.

The LAPD is pressing two electric cars into service, for the time being at least.

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The department will get a BMW i3 as a loaner from the carmaker for the next year, and plans to use it for research and public-relations purposes.

A Tesla Model S P85D will also don the LAPD's black-and-white livery as a loaner vehicle as well, reports The Verge.

Both cars got the full police treatment, complete with roof-mounted light bars.

LAPD Tesla Model S P85D

LAPD Tesla Model S P85D

While they won't be permanent members of the LAPD fleet, they're good PR to underscore plans for the Los Angeles city government to have a fairly large contingent of electric cars soon.

The unveiling of the i3 and Model S police cruisers coincided with an announcement that city agencies will lease 160 battery-electric cars, and 128 plug-in hybrids.

Los Angeles' police, fire, water and power, and general services departments will together lease the all-electric cars, and the water and power and general services departments will also lease the plug-in hybrids.

ALSO SEE: Electric Police Cars? Seattle Uses Nissan Leafs For Traffic Enforcement

The LAPD also recently purchased 23 electric scooters, and three electric motorcycles. It will get 100 of the allotted battery-electric cars.

City officials expect to move to plug-in cars to reduce operating costs by an estimated 41 percent per vehicle.

They also claim this lease plan will give Los Angeles the largest municipal battery-electric car fleet in the U.S.

LAPD BMW i3

LAPD BMW i3

Its biggest competition for that title could be Indianapolis, which last year announced plans to replace 425 non-pursuit police vehicles with leased electric cars and plug-in hybrids.

Los Angeles also wants electric cars to represent 80 percent of municipal-fleet vehicle purchases by 2025.

MORE: Is The Tesla Model S Electric Car The Perfect Police Cruiser?

That is a component of LA's "Sustainable City pLAn," which aims to dramatically decrease the city's environmental impact over the next few decades.

Other goals include reducing greenhouse-gas emissions 80 percent by 2050, and eliminating electricity generation for the city's Department of Water and Power by 2025.

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