- Report flooding after Hurricane Helene has engulfed hundreds of vehicles, totaling most of them.
- However whereas virtually no gasoline automotive can deal with being submerged, a Rivian R1T nonetheless works after being almost absolutely submerged and carried over 100 yards by floodwaters.
- Rivian says it designs seals into its battery packs to keep away from water intrusion, and it seems to be like these seals can deal with actually unbelievable floods.
A Rivian R1T that was absolutely engulfed by Hurricane Helene’s flood waters one way or the other nonetheless works, based on a Fb video posted by Joshua Vincent Sauer.
Within the video, you may see that the Rivian is roofed in mud that reached as much as its roof. The proprietor tells Sauer that he parked it close to the Swannanoa River within the Asheville, North Carolina space. When Hurricane Helene hit, the water degree rose, flooding the encompassing space. The cataclysmic flooding has ravaged the Southeast, devastating North Carolina and different states and resulting in over 100 deaths.
Many roads and full districts are nonetheless impassible as a result of flooding, and energy and water companies are out for numerous individuals within the space.
Sauer stated he returned to seek out the truck over 100 yards from the place he parked it, carried by floodwaters. (InsideEVs reached out to the proprietor on Reddit for extra info. I am going to replace this put up if we hear again.)
Any gasoline automotive I do know of could be totaled, as saltwater would have penetrated each a part of the engine. However the Rivian’s sealed for water fording, and the relative simplicity of an EV makes it simpler to forestall water intrusion. Do not take my phrase for it: Have a look at the R1T he drives, and the way it nonetheless runs after being completely swallowed by hurricane-level flooding.
The proprietor says he walked as much as the automotive absolutely ready to name is insurance coverage firm and report a complete loss. However then his pal noticed the door handles come out, an indication that the battery was nonetheless working. When he obtained within the automotive, the proprietor says the R1T began up like nothing had occurred. He is since fast-charged it and pushed round city and up to now observed no points.
A considerably much less muddy Rivian R1S throughout a first-drive occasion.
It is no coincidence {that a} Rivian survived this. As a part of my analysis for my story on battery fires after a flood, I reached out to Rivian for info on how the corporate prevents water intrusion. In accordance with a spokesperson, Rivian batteries are well-protected from floodwaters and unlikely to pose a hearth threat if flooded.
“Along with the sealing of our packs, that are verified earlier than automobile set up, we monitor any publicity to water ingress inside our batteries by our electrical isolation options,” the spokesperson advised InsideEVs through e-mail. “We actively shield the client and the automobile from any additional injury in such occasions. As a part of our intensive battery testing, we additionally run salt spray exams to show that our corrosion mitigations by the lifetime of our packs are sturdy. As soon as once more, our isolation monitoring options in our electrical and digital methods present ample detection.”
That isolation monitoring is vital, as a result of it ought to mechanically minimize energy if it detects water ingress into the battery. If the battery continues to be working, that probably signifies that no water was in a position to penetrate the Rivian’s sealed battery.
On condition that local weather change is making disasters like this extra widespread, and that electrical automobiles are wanted to cut back our carbon emissions and stop additional injury, it is good to see that EVs might be made to perform after excessive floods. However we would warning any driver of any kind of automotive to train excessive warning utilizing a flooded automobile. Some corrosion and injury won’t be instantly evident, and driving any automobile with flooded elements may pose a threat.
In case your EV nonetheless activates after a flood, we nonetheless suggest getting it checked out by a licensed mechanic. However in an emergency, when important companies are nonetheless down and mechanics are onerous to seek out, it is good to see that the R1T can energy on.
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