Tesla Model S Floats Like a Boat
Ru Chen
· 3 min read
It’s every car’s dream to be the best at what they do: being a car. Yet it wouldn’t be too far off to say Tesla cars have aspirations to be a good boat, too. They can handle
deep waters
much better than other cars. If you want to feel like Captain Jack Sparrow,
driving a Tesla
is the way to go (not recommended at home).
Testing Tesla cars in deep waters
InsideEVs
discusses the "swimming" potential of a Tesla. Electric vehicles (EVs) in general fare better in flood conditions than gas cars. Even Elon Musk has noted that a Model S "floats well enough to turn it into a boat for short periods of time" using "thrust via wheel rotation."
Tesla tests its cars in deep waters during the quality control process. Funnily enough, though, Tesla doesn’t cover flood damage in its warranty.
It is very dangerous, and potentially fatal, to drive a car through deep waters, even one like a Tesla Model S or 3. Always try to avoid going through areas that have flash flood warnings.
At least it’s good to know in the back of your mind that if you’re forced to drive through water, a Tesla is better than other cars at "swimming." Sometimes you have no choice, after all.
MORE: How to Detect Water or Flood Damage in a Used Car
Why driving a car through deep waters is bad
During a flood, there are many potential dangers, including:
- Tires losing traction, causing a crash
- Rushing flood water carrying you downstream, causing a crash
- Engine hydrolocking, causing—you guessed it—a crash
Gas engines are especially prone to hydrolocking. A hydrostatic lock occurs when water gets sucked into the intake.
Deep waters of 2 feet and above make it extremely dangerous to drive through with a car. Flood damage can cost around $12,000 to repair, depending on the model and the extent of the damages.
MORE: How Much Water Damage Will Total a Car?
After the deluge...
...comes water damage.
Water damage sucks, especially since it’s not always visible in the beginning. It can be insidious, seeping through your car in the form of moldy smells, rusty trunks, and more.
It can also be very costly, since a car can be deemed a total loss after sustaining significant water damage.
If your car is unlucky enough to get damaged by a flood, well, don’t worry, even Captain Jack Sparrow loses his ship.
As long as you have comprehensive coverage, your insurance will probably cover all the damages to your car.
Jerry
can help you with getting that amazing insurance so you’re covered in case of any and all natural disasters or accidents. Jerry is a free app that saves the average user $879 a year! It can also cancel your old policy for you and give you updated quotes every time your renewal comes up.
