[sjoshi999]

Water logging & flooding is a reality in India - how did EVs fair on waterlogged roads & recent flooding incidences in the monsoon? Any significant advantages of one versus the other?

Any actual owner experiences from the recent monsoons? In Bangalore?

Thanks

[torquecurve]

Not from Bangalore but in Pune the Tata Tigor EV handled waterlogged roads like a BOSS! Where other sedans we’re waiting by the side, the Tigor EV effortlessly drove through almost 12 - 14 inches of water. I am sure the Nexon EV with higher ground clearance fares better.
The biggest fear of water entering your exhaust pipe is not there. Of course the wires are exposed but standing water doesn’t really have much impact

[lapis_lazuli]

Most automotive electrical components and more so for EV, are governed by Standards of ingress: water, pollutants, dust and debris etc. These are governed by AIS standards. So all modules below the wading depth and most, under the bonnet, are rated likewise.

IP ratings are one way to address it. "Ingress Protection" you could read up IP67, IP68.

https://hmr.araiindia.com/Control/AI...S138_Part1.pdf

[mayankk]

Originally Posted by torquecurve

The biggest fear of water entering your exhaust pipe is not there. Of course the wires are exposed but standing water doesn’t really have much impact

The biggest fear of ICE cars would be water entering through the intake, no?
Keep the engine revving when the exhaust is underwater, and that will be enough to keep the water out. I think that idle ought to also be enough to keep water out, but I could be catastrophically wrong! So i keep the gas pressed.

[rishi.roger]

I asked this question earlier in the Nexon EV thread, however asking this here again as an extension of the OP's question.

Most answers on this thread address the water-logging, to which it seems that EV >>> ICE and pretty much nails it and passes with green flag.
However, the answers had a criteria that the water levels were up to a certain depth.

WHAT HAPPENS in case of TOTAL FLOODING ? Let's say a scenario where the car was parked in the basement and the basement got completely flooded ? This is in scenarios where the Vehicles are in standstill obviously.
Are there exposed wires/cables that could get damaged over time/usage ?
What about the protection from dangerous elements like Rats/Mice and felines ? Have seen cases where they bite into cables, wool and whatever they find their way into. Is this possible in EVs w.r.t. electrical or hazardous parts ?

Sorry if it feels like a questionnaire but I couldn't control my curiosity on this topic.

[aim120]

Originally Posted by rishi.roger

Most answers on this thread address the water-logging, to which it seems that EV >>> ICE and pretty much nails it and passes with green flag.

WHAT HAPPENS in case of TOTAL FLOODING ? Let's say a scenario where the car was parked in the basement and the basement got completely flooded ?
What about the protection from dangerous elements like Rats/Mice and felines ?

.

In case the EV is submerged just like any other car, non-ip67/68 rated electronics, connectors, headlamp, lights etc can malfunction which may need replacement.

Seats, carpets, trims etc will need to thrown away. AC evaporator coil may need to be cleaned or replaced, blower assembly, ducts will also need to cleaned or replaced.

Lcd display/infortaniment/ instrument console etc may survive provided the 12v battery supply, 5v supply, can bus etc are all disconnected and sealed water tight. But over the years you will notice the PCB, electrical contact points corroding turning green due to formation of cupric oxide, which can also be cleaned with electrical contact cleaners.

But the question is, will the labour be cheaper to painstakingly clean or will it be cheaper to just replace the effected components.

As far as rats chewing on electrical connections, the high voltage lines from battery to the motor controller are really thick wires, since both the voltage and current is several times more then the regular 12v wires, the insulation in these wires are much thicker. Some EV cars also have another plastic sleeve to further protect from stone chips, mice etc.

But a stubborn rat can chew it like those bandicoot rats with big sharp teeth.

[IshaanIan]

Obviously since there is no air intake for combustion, an EV does not have to worry about wading through flooded roads. I once got extremely pissed off recently when I had just finished taking my Kizashi (155mm ground clearance) through some deep-ish water and once I had got to the other end after nursing my car through like a champ keeping its revs up high, this idiot in a Nexon EV decides to block my path by aborting his attempt through the water and taking a U-Turn Seriously, EVs should have no problem going through flooded roads. Given you understand the road you are going through and there isn't any fear of getting stuck in potholes and all that.

[123.rishabh]

I have driven my E Verito in Gurgaon water logging with half of my tyres submerged in water and faced no issues.

Talking about the Air intake for ICE vs EV, EVs also have air intake in order to cool electronic components.
In case of the Verito Electric, the Air intake is present on the Right hand side just below the mahindra logo on the front grill, from where the air is directed under the engine cover to cool the electronics.



So one needs to take care of how much water wading is safe basis these factors for different EV models

[Dry Ice]

This caught my eye while going through the XUV400 EV review.

Sure, driving through a waterlogged street may not be the same as a pressure wash, but, it demonstrates that batteries/electronics don’t like water.

Originally Posted by Omkar

If you plan to get your car washed from a local shop, make sure you tell them in advance to not pressure wash the underbody:

[BoneCollector]

Here is a first hand experience by bgt_titan, a Kona owner in Hyderabad.

Link (Hyundai Kona EV : Ownership Review)

[Mustang_Boss]

Most of the EV batteries are sealed. Even if these batteries have liquid cooling or not, the Battery is sealed, but it will have the needed inlets and outlets for the coolant to pass through.

The Terminals of the battery are coated with heavy rubber or other synthetic material to sustain wear and tear and not to short circuit with any elements. All wiring [related to propulsion] are heavily coated to ensure nothing/no one could touch it.

The motors are sealed too, but the gaskets used shall determine the water wading depth.

Technically, you can use your EV in water as a boat if built well.

Best Example :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0td...b_channel=CNET

In Indian Reality, the car built at a cost, hence, nothing international shall apply.

Coming to other parts, to what extent they are exposed to water shall determine the durability of the vehicle.

[shamanths3]

I will give you my experience on Hassan Sakleshpur highway which is being built now. There was a stretch where there no concrete and the water was flowing I think around or maybe above ankle length. I saw a Swift waiting but I just went in without any hesitation as I had read that my EV Max is safe upto 1ft of water wading as long as the speed is at a crawling pace. Also I made sure that I guided the swift so that he can pass safely.

The below screenshot from the Nexon EV manual, posting here hoping it will help others.

[SLK]

I'm more concerned about the damage it can cause to others. I'm very sure that over the years the IP67 sealing will get damaged, due to local repairs, accidents, underbody hits.

The question then is, will EV in water start electrocuting people around? or people inside or very near the car, or the water will have enough 'ground' effect to knock out the batteries before they cause damage.

PS: I've heard of people dying in flooded basements due to electric shock, so not sure if grounding helps that much.

[UD17]

Flash flood and water logging will have a very strong impact on EVs in my opinion. The car is more of a electrical machines+ Software and these are much more sensitive to handle the water. Off course there is some water ingress protection in terms of IP ratings, yet continuous exposure will have long aftermath in EVs electronics than ICE cars. God forbid if such cases are found, the repair cost would be much much higher and complicated. So i see the insurance company's getting more trouble with EVs in such cases as they do not have any option but to declare total loss.

[vj1303]

Porsche Cayman driving through water logged roads in Gurgaon - https://www.instagram.com/reel/ChWdr...d=YmMyMTA2M2Y=



Here's another one from China -

https://youtu.be/OEhZXT-XiMI