Driving your Tesla through flood water is a risky endeavor, and not something that is advisable by the company. However, a recent video of a woman driving her Tesla through flood water with no issues has gone viral on social media. This begs the questions: is it really possible for a Tesla car to drive in water without the engine stopping? Will you get electrocuted?
Can Tesla Cars Drive Underwater? What is Telsa ‘Boat Mode’?
The answer is both yes and no. While Tesla does have a “boat mode” that allows the car to navigate through shallow water, it is not designed for deep water or large bodies of water. Tesla CEO Elon Musk said in 2016 that some Tesla models can function as a sort of “boat”, but he did not specify which models.
The technology that powers the Tesla’s “boat mode” is called the “Full Self-Driving” suite. It is a set of driver-assist features that enable the car to drive itself in certain situations. It can detect obstacles, and detect its position on the road, as well as make decisions about how to maneuver around them.
Elon Musk reacted to the footage of the woman driving her Tesla through floodwater saying “The Car Aquatic”.
The Tesla’s “boat mode” is powered by a sealed battery and drive units that do not require an oxygen supply, like most combustion engines, to keep the car running. This allows the car to stay afloat even in deep water. However, it is important to note that the battery and drive units are only designed to be submerged in shallow water, and they are not designed to handle deep water, or strong currents.
While the Tesla’s “boat mode” can be used to navigate through shallow water, it is not advisable to drive through deep water or large bodies of water in a Tesla. The risk of the car becoming stranded, or worse, severely damaged, is too great. Additionally, most car insurance does not cover driving through flooded areas, so it is important to keep this in mind before attempting to drive your Tesla through a flood zone.