Ola S1 Pro electric scooter wading through deep water: Is it safe to do so? [Video]

There are many misconceptions about electric vehicles and their performance in adverse conditions. One such ambiguity around electric vehicles is their performance and operations if they are ridden or driven in water-logged conditions, an aspect in which IC engine vehicles generally fail if they have low water-wading capacity. However, electric vehicles do not suffer from this issue, and it has been proven in a social media post by an Ola S1 Pro electric scooter rider.

 

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A post shared by Akhil Vijay (A K) (@akhil.motolux)

In this Facebook post, ‘Akhil.motolux’ has shown how an electric scooter is effortless to ride over water-logged surfaces. The video shows the presenter riding an Ola S1 Pro through a water-logged surface, in which the scooter can be seen submerged in water till its floorboard area.

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Batteries are IP67 certified

Usually, in a scooter or motorcycle powered by an internal combustion engine, water penetrates the engine via openings, including the exhaust pipe. However, in an electric scooter like the Ola S1 Pro, the battery is IP67 certified, which means that it is sealed safely, with no chances of water penetration inside it.

Adding to it, there are no exhaust pipes in an electric vehicle, which further eliminates the risk of water penetration in the powertrain. It is due to these reasons that despite being submerged in water, the Ola S1 Pro pulls effortlessly out of the surface.

A fabulous picture of a @switchEVglobal bus, dismissing any myths about EV’s and water as it wades through a waterlogged road following incessant rain, at the Marathalli Outer Ring Road (ORR), in Bengaluru. (Image Credit: ANI) pic.twitter.com/33ClSLjjTy

— Dr. Andy Palmer (@AndyatAuto) September 6, 2022

The issue of vehicles getting damaged due to water-logging conditions during heavy rainfalls and floods is not a new thing. If a vehicle is damaged under such conditions, it becomes expensive to repair, especially for the mechanical damages inside the engine and damages to the electrical harness. There are no such chances of damage in an electric vehicle.

Even for heavy commercial vehicles like electric buses and trucks, there are no such chances of damage. A social media post of a Switch electric bus wading through a road in Bengaluru heavily clogged with rainwater went viral. In this post, we can see the electric bus being driven effortlessly through water-logged roads, something which a diesel-powered bus might not even think of doing.

Still need to be careful

It is important to know that driving an electric car or SUV through water-logged roads might attract other problems. If you are driving a four-wheeled vehicle through such a road, there are chances of water penetrating the cabin through the foot-well area, which can damage other components inside the cabin.

Also, if the battery pack is not sourced from a reliable manufacturer and is not sealed properly, a drop of water can cause a short circuit. While electric vehicles are much safer and more reliable for water wading, one needs to be very careful while crossing submerged roads. Since one cannot see what lies under the submerged roads, it becomes even more dangerous. We have seen in the past how quickly electric vehicles can catch fire and that is exactly why one needs to be generally more careful around EVs.

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