Watch The German Fire Brigade Cut A BMW i3 To Shreds In The Name Of Science

When the fire brigade is called to an emergency where a passenger/passengers are trapped inside of a car, the rescue team needs to be sure that it’s able to free crash victims quickly. The increased strength and new materials used in modern cars, however, can potentially make it difficult for the cutting equipment needed during a rescue.

Carbonfibre - a material which makes up much of the BMW i3 - is a case in point. Because it’s stronger than steel, the ADAC (Allgemeiner Deutscher Automobil-Club) wanted to see if the cutting equipment could slice through the material efficiently, or if new equipment would have to be designed for cars with the same high-strength material.

The findings - as you can see in the video footage - show that the cutters are up to task and that a potential rescue can be carried out just as quickly as with a standard steel construction car. Face masks are a necessity, however, due to the carbonfibre dust that’s created in the cutting process.