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Brave BMW i3 Owner Proves That EVs and Water Do Get Along

BMW i3 "Swimming" 7 photos
Photo: Tom Sunderland on YouTube | Edited
BMW i3 Playing in Knee-High WaterBMW i3 Playing in Knee-High WaterBMW i3 Playing in Knee-High WaterBMW i3 Playing in Knee-High WaterBMW i3 Playing in Knee-High WaterBMW i3 Playing in Knee-High Water
When BMW started seriously experimenting with electrified or completely electric powertrains, it created the i3, the i8, and other plug-in hybrids. The i3 was laughed at because of its quirky, bubbly shape, while the i8 was ridiculed for having a teeny-tiny 1.5-liter three-cylinder at its rear and an eye-watering price tag. Now, these two could very well become classics. But here's someone driving an i3 through a body of water.
The video below proves that the little all-electric Bavarian car with reverse-hinged Mazda RX-8-like doors is a great pod for commuting even the toughest routes. You don't have to believe us. Just watch how simple it is to maneuver a not-so-new-anymore Bimmer through a very generous puddle.

Ever since electric vehicles (EVs) started gaining popularity, many people who did not like seeing them around started believing all sorts of stuff about them. For reasons that only detractors can understand, this type of zero-tailpipe emission propulsion system is not welcomed everywhere – yet, at least. People used to oppose laws forbidding driving under the influence, and that has changed despite their protests.

That's happening despite many studies showing that EV driving is great for local communities and broader environments. Use one extensively, and you can even contribute to the fight against global warming. If everyone's doing their part (including large corporations, execs, and celebrities flying private), we can achieve our goals for a greener future.

One of the weirdest ways EVs were badmouthed was people saying they could not handle rainy days or going through a car wash. That doesn't even begin to make sense because regulators would have never allowed such an automobile to roam any bit of public road. There are hundreds of mandatory minimum safety requirements that dictate exactly how a vehicle must be made to be eligible for driving.

But it's even weirder that some people continue to have an anti-EV stance in a world where governments are incentivizing them, automakers are constantly improving their offerings, and breakthroughs after breakthroughs announce incoming improvements. Besides that, major auto brands are also focusing on recycling and reusing materials. That includes high-voltage batteries as well!

Leasing or financing an EV makes the most sense in today's inflationary environment, where average new car prices have risen considerably. That's especially true if you live in places like California or Colorado and qualify for the federal EV tax credit and other state or local incentives. Nobody needs an F-150 Raptor to commute.

If you have friends or acquaintances who still believe that all-electric vehicles are meant to be driven only on sunny days, show them this video shot in the UK, where water crossings like this one are common. It'll help them understand that's not the case.

Don't forget to tell them that this is an older car that still runs nicely and can do everything someone in need of a commuting appliance would want to accomplish.

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About the author: Florin Amariei
Florin Amariei profile photo

Car shows on TV and his father's Fiat Tempra may have been Florin's early influences, but nowadays he favors different things, like the power of an F-150 Raptor. He'll never be able to ignore the shape of a Ferrari though, especially a yellow one.
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