Are electric cars safe to drive through water?

Water and electricity aren’t the best of mates. Shock!

Water is a significant conductor of electricity, which means it can carry energy and cause electrocution. It’s why there are warning labels on all electrical appliances.

But what about electric cars? Are they safe to drive when it’s raining? Can I drive an EV through a river crossing?

And what about launching jet skis and tinnies from the boat ramp?

The simple answer is yes, EVs are safe, but let’s find out more and if there are any differences you need to know between driving an EV or an internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle through water.

First of all, electric vehicles use high-voltage battery packs to store electricity that provide power to the electric motors.

While it is easy to presume the battery packs, which in most cases are mounted under the floor of the car, are exposed to water from the road when it is raining, they are actually protected by extra bodywork that prevents contact with water, road grime and dirt.

This means the critical components are what is termed as completely ‘sealed units’ that are designed to be water and dust proof. This is because even the smallest foreign particles can affect their performance and long-term reliability.

On top of that, the high-voltage cables that connect the battery pack to the electric motor/s and charging outlet are also sealed.

So, yes, it is completely safe – and no different to any other type of car – to drive an EV in the rain.

Driving through deeper water, such as a river crossing or a mildly flooded road, requires more caution no matter what type of vehicle you are in.

And the same fundamental safety rules apply; if the water is too fast, or too deep, turn around and find an alternative route.

But essentially there is no difference between driving an EV and an ICE vehicle through low-level river crossings or deep puddles on the road.

In any case, the limiting factor will be the manufacturer’s maximum wading depth for each individual vehicle. If you’re unsure of this figure, check the owner’s manual or search carsales’ extensive catalogue of specifications of your vehicle, including from the experts at Redbook.com.au.

This is, generally, no different for vehicles with an internal combustion engine or battery pack, and SUVs and dedicated four-wheel drives will have a greater wading depth than a small hatchback or any sports car.

The same dangers apply to any vehicle when crossing a river; the car could become bogged or, worse case, you lose control, the vehicle is carried downstream and sinks. We recommend exercising extreme caution when approaching a river crossing.

Firstly, stop the vehicle before entering the water to assess the conditions. If the crossing has a water level marking post, check how deep it is and whether your vehicle has enough wading depth.

If it doesn’t have a marking post, at least do a visual inspection of the creek to determine how deep the water may be, or, more importantly, walk across to assess it physically.

This will also provide more knowledge of the conditions of the riverbed, such as whether there might be large rocks, deeper holes and how fast the current is flowing across the crossing. If in doubt, do not proceed.

In this scenario, there is one advantage for EVs compared to ICE vehicles in that water can damage an internal combustion engine if it is ingested through the air intake system.

Because electric vehicles don’t require oxygen to produce power, the motors are enclosed and unlikely to be damaged if exposed to water.

For the same reasons, there is nothing to prevent you dunking the back end of your EV into the water to drop the tinny in the lake or the jet skis onto the beach when using a boat ramp.

The battery pack and electric motors are sealed and designed to be waterproof. Again, the level of exposure will be determined by the wading depth.

And like any other car, it is highly recommended to clean your vehicle properly as soon as possible to prevent corrosion.

The only limiting factor with an EV for boaties is the restricted towing capacity of most electric vehicles on sale now.

The BMW iX has the highest towing capacity of any EV available in Australia, with a maximum braked trailer load of 2500kg, but most others are between 1000-1500kg.

Even the only electric dual-cab ute, the LDV eT60, has a towing capacity of 1000kg, which is one third of what it can haul with a diesel engine.

In essence, there are no major additional limitations – or dangers – to owning an electric car when it comes to water than there is with a conventional vehicle with an internal combustion engine.

For everything you auto know about EVs, listen to carsales’ Watts Under the Bonnet: the electric car podcast

Also check out carsales’ Electric Car hub