BMW 530e Runs From Georgia Cops Driving V8s

The debate about what’s better, an all-electric car or one with a V8 is ongoing, but we suspect this dashcam footage out of Calyton County, Georgia will only add fuel to the fire. In it, a suspect in a BMW 530e runs from a member of the Clayton County Sheriff’s elite Blackhawk Unit, which uses V8-powered Dodge Chargers.

Watch a Camaro ZL1 driver run from the Blackhawk Unit in a high-flying chase.

Different people see this chase and its outcome differently and it’s largely based on where they sit in the whole EV vs international combustion engine vehicles debate. After all, police chases can show what vehicles are capable of in the real world versus a controlled racetrack, but there are other facts in the mix as well.

One point a lot of people seem to miss right off the bat is the 530e isn’t an all-electric vehicle. It does have a single electric motor, positioned between the turbocharged four-cylinder engine and the eight-speed transmission, so it’s a hybrid. Supposedly, that’s good for 288-horsepower and 310 lb.-ft. of torque, although BMW is famous for understating output. Still, this is no EV, which is why it has tailpipes.

What’s more, the BMW 530e does have a speed governor. While there’s a Speed Limit Assist feature to help you know what the limit is on any stretch of the road, the governor doesn’t allow the German sedan to exceed 127 mph. It’s slightly higher with the M Sport package installed on the car, but the Blackhawk Unit Charger doesn’t have a speed governor, giving the deputy a clear advantage on big straightaways.

Another thing people are pointing out is the Bimmer driver was allegedly intoxicated. EV advocates say had the guy been sober he would’ve been much better at running, so the fact the Blackhawk deputy caught him is more about his intoxication than the performance capabilities of the electric car.

Some claim the BMW 530e is just smoking the deputy in raw acceleration. We’ve seen cops get “smoked” by suspects before and know it’s a strategy for them to not stay right on top of suspects. After all, when this deputy does get right up behind the Bimmer, the suspect slams on his brakes and tries outmaneuvering the cop as he suddenly takes the lead.

Watch the chase and let us know if you think the BMW is a superior performance vehicle that would’ve just roasted the Blackhawk Dodge Charger with a more capable driver behind the wheel.

Image via GTBOARD.com/YouTube