When Rivian mentioned its electrical pickup was constructed to “deal with all of it,” it wasn’t bluffing. A Rivian R1T proprietor in Asheville, North Carolina, had his car dragged 100 to 150 ft after Hurricane Helene swept by means of the realm. To even his shock, Rivian’s electrical pickup was nonetheless able to run.
Rivian R1T survives Hurricane Helene floodwaters
Rivian has “spent years” hauling gear, loading bikes, and testing its electrical pickup to make sure it may face up to all of it.
The R1T can plow by means of 3 ft of water and climb a 100% grade with over 14″ of floor clearance. It even has sports activities automotive acceleration with immediate torque to hit 0 to 60 mph in as little as 3 seconds.
Nevertheless, after Hurricane Helene left a devastating path of destruction, Rivian’s electrical pickup might have earned its title as the final word journey car.
Native Asheville, NC resident and Rivian R1T proprietor Joshua Vincent Sauer mentioned his Rivian R1T survived the worst of it.
After parking his electrical pickup by a U-Haul on Thursday evening, Sauer returned on the lookout for it on Saturday, solely to seek out it “100 to 150 ft” away by an area Walgreens.
In a video posted on Fb, the R1T proprietor mentioned he assumed floodwaters carried the car.
Though he wasn’t there to see it, Sauer mentioned he knew the R1T was not discovered the place he parked it earlier than the Hurricane.
You possibly can see the mud caked on the aspect of the car and water nonetheless within the mattress. After noticing the door handles opening, he knew the pickup nonetheless had electrical energy. When he acquired in, “it booted up like nothing occurred,” Sauer mentioned.
Though it was initially exhausting to seek out charging stations (like working gasoline stations), Sauer mentioned there was an open Electrify America charger at an area Sam’s Membership. He additionally talked about a Tesla Supercharger at a close-by park.
Electrek’s Take
Asheville was one of many hardest-hit areas by Hurricane Helene, because the loss of life toll rises to almost 180. It was one of many worst storms in US historical past, in accordance with AP Information, in different phrases a pure catastrophe.
Many individuals misplaced every part, together with their houses, private belongings, and family members. Many are nonetheless with out energy, operating water, or cell service. Some are stranded with roads washed away by floodwaters. Authorities cargo planes are unloading meals and water to among the hardest-hit areas this week.
Automobiles aren’t anticipated to outlive a pure catastrophe like this, however Rivian’s R1T’s potential to face up to among the worst of it’s a main accomplishment for the EV maker.
Rivian continues advancing safer, extra environment friendly EV tech. Final month, it turned the one pickup within the US with an IIHS High Security Decide+ award in 2024. Rivian’s 2024 R1T electrical pickup scored “Good” on all crash rankings, besides the usual Ahead Collision Avoidance system, which earned an “Acceptable” score.
And Rivian isn’t the one one. Automakers, startups, and governments all over the world are teaming as much as develop safer EV tech as adoption charges proceed climbing.
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