Are EVs safe to drive in floods?

Having driven through some epic puddles and sections of flooded roads over the last few months how do electric cars perform in these situations? Are the motors and connections fully waterproofed?

Asked on 9 March 2020 by Mark Worthington

Answered by Andrew Brady
Yes, the battery packs in electric cars are fully sealed so there's no risk of electrocution. If anything, it's probably safer to drive an EV through a flood as there's no danger of water getting into the engine or transmission. Elon Musk once claimed the Tesla Model S floats well enough to turn into a boat, but that's probably not advised...
Similar questions
If I was unfortunate and got caught in a flood that was say two feet deep, what would happen in an electric car. Would a battery short cause electrocution of occupants or cause a fire? How safe would...
Will an electric car get through floods as well as a petrol or diesel car?
I recently drove my BMW 1 Series through a flooded ford. The car now doesn't want to start and I get a *click* noise when I press the start button. Any idea what could be wrong?
 

Value my car

Save £75 on Warranty using code HJ75

with MotorEasy

Get a warranty quote

Save 12% on GAP Insurance

Use HJ21 to save on an ALA policy

See offer