i3 electric vehicles are now being released from the city's police fleet.
California is a state that is focused on a cleaner environment, more so than any other. The state wants to lower pollution and is viewed as an EV-friendly one. While this can be a hassle for those who love gas-powered cars, cities like Los Angeles are notorious for their smog-filled air, and any advance to reduce this should be supported.
With this in mind, the LAPD started accepting bids in 2015 for electric vehicles, with BMW winning the bid. The 2018 video below explains how these BMW i3 models have barely been used and just how much they've cost taxpayers, but the upside is that they're now for sale at a relative bargain.
Apparently, the department leased 100 of the i3s every year for three years from 2016, with the majority of cars reserved for community research initiatives and other administrative tasks, but some did get the LAPD's black and white livery with a light bar.
Unfortunately, it seems that since the early deliveries were filled by the models with the 22-kWh battery packs and no range extenders, most cops didn't feel all that good about risking running out of juice after just 81 miles. Thus, most of the cars were barely used, with the majority only clocking a couple of thousand miles and some not even breaking into the four-figure range.
Now the department needs to recoup over $10 million in wasted money. Although the sale of these i3s won't come close to reaching that goal, the department nevertheless needs to make space for a more practical fleet. As a result, New Century BMW - the same dealer that leased the vehicles in the first place - is selling them off.
Many of the listings have already been snatched up, but if you're looking for a bargain i3 before it dies here, now is the time. Sure, it's far from a perfect car, but it's still a cool and quirky runabout and a bargain is always great to capitalize on.
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