Sort of counterintuitively, it’s theoretically simpler to drive an electrical automobile underwater than it’s to drive an inner combustion automobile by the depths beneath. YouTube’s Chillin’ with Chet determined to place principle into follow by trying to drive his Tesla Mannequin S underneath 7 ft of water.

As is so typically the case, the applying of a principle seems to be a lot tougher than you may count on, and the check seems to be a little bit of a humid squib (pun clearly supposed).

In the long run, the challenges of working the experiment show an excessive amount of, but it surely’s a superb watch all the identical as a result of, if Jeep’s promoting is any indication, one of these problem could change into a factor sooner or later and this video does a superb job of explaining why driving underwater is so arduous.

Learn Additionally: Jeep’s Underwater Electrical Wrangler Teaser Isn’t As Unhinged As It Could Seem

The speculation that an EV might drive underwater comes on account of the truth that electrical motors want no air to function, not like their gas-powered alternate options. So, so far as energy is worried, a Tesla Mannequin S Plaid ought to want no modifications to drive underwater.

However there’s, firstly, the chance of a water leak shorting the electrical system. Once more, in principle, EVs needs to be properly sufficient insulated to deal with a superb quantity of water since you don’t need them to short-circuit if they arrive throughout a flood – or, in a excessive state of affairs, crash right into a river.

Then there’s the motive force and the necessity for air. What this video actually struggles with is balancing out the necessity to introduce as little water as potential to the electronics and the necessity for the automobile to really sink. The facility of buoyancy is, apparently, mighty.

Even with almost 4,000 lbs (1,814 kg) of added weight, the automobile floats throughout the watery ditch relatively than sinking into it. The check is a little bit of a flop then, with the automobile refusing to sink, form of shutting down however not precisely breaking down, and at last driving itself out of the water however not by it. All of which fails to reply the query whether or not the Tesla will drive underwater. However the technique of discovering out is value a couple of minutes of your day.