MAV Amphibious EV – Mixing Electricity and Water

We're not even sure how to begin this piece. We mean, who on Earth would ever have thought of putting together a amphibious-capable car, powered by electricity? When did combining electric current with water made sense? If EVs are not quite feasible yet and amphibious cars already proved big no-nos several times in the past, why would an amphibious electric vehicles make sense?

Apparently, an obscure electric vehicle manufacturer from South Korea named CT&T was oblivious to all the above questions. They not only built the MAV - Multi Amphibious Vehicle, but they also took it to Detroit, to showcase it at the 2010 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS).
Was it worth it? You bet 'ya! CT&T manufacturers other electric vehicles as well (view them here), but none draw as much attention as the MAV. Even if only as a mean for people to make fun and jokes about it.

As you can see, the MAV has six wheels, turned about by a seven-kilowatt electric motor and a lead-acid battery pack. It can reach a top speed of 40 mph on land (for a range of 80 miles) and only 10 mph on water.

Crazy, right? Wrong! Joseph White, CT$T CEO for the US, explained the reasoning behind the MAV to the New York Times.

“Here in Michigan there are so many lakes, and people with lake homes and so forth, they see a lot of practical applications for that vehicle.”

But would the passengers using the MAV get zapped? No.

“A woman came up to me and asked, ‘Do you realize you’ve got electricity and water trying to work together here? That’s not going to work, is it?' I told her, ‘Every boat with a motor has some kind of battery on board to start it.’ "

"We just dispensed with the internal combustion engine and let the batteries do all the work. The battery compartment, of course, is waterproof.”