The floodwater from Hurricane Helene, the Class 4 hurricane that impacted six states and brought about a minimum of 230 deaths in late September, swept a 7,000-pound Rivian electrical truck about 100 yards away from the place it was parked. When its proprietor discovered the truck, opened its mud-encrusted door, and tried to show it on, he discovered that the automobile powered up as traditional.
Rivian R1T proprietor Michael Cusick, an Asheville, North Carolina resident, instructed automobile aficionado Joshua Vincent Sauer in a viral social media video that he parked the automobile on Thursday, September 26, and got here to retrieve it on Saturday, September 28.
@usedcarmanwnc Hurrican Helene tried to destroy a model new Rivian truck! Proprietor thought it was totaled and went to name his insurance coverage when his pals suggests they “Boot it up”! Effectively by golly it did simply that and Booted up prepared for extra. Inside was untouched and idk how that is attainable with the truck weighing 7000lbs plus ans being moved 100s of toes or extra! #Rivian #RivianR1T #riviantruck #RivianR1Tperformance #Rivianinhurricane #RivianHurricaneHelene #flood #uhaul #asheivlle #tunnelroad #swannanoa #swannanoariver #fortunate #whatluck #wnc #wncstrong #asheville #ashevillenc ♬ unique sound – USEDCARMAN
At first look, Cusick thought the over $70,000 EV was totaled. He was nonetheless in a position to open the door deal with although, and when he obtained in, he discovered there was no water harm inside — it functioned usually.
“It simply booted up like nothing had occurred,” he mentioned.
Hey it is Michael Cusick from the viral flooded R1T video. It is nonetheless unreal to me that my Rivian survived. Swept 100 yards from the place I parked it and other than slightly vibration at greater speeds she drives like a dream. Actually a testomony to the engineering group over @Rivian pic.twitter.com/mhVyMxOXnh
— Michael Cusick (@chessforgiants) October 4, 2024
For everybody that is been asking, here’s a video of the inside, gear tunnel, and frunk! Not a drop of water made it in. If I have been to invest, that is a direct results of the engineering group @rivian and the mud being so thick it sealed the whole automobile from water intrusion. pic.twitter.com/7rZlRHRb6m
— Michael Cusick (@chessforgiants) October 5, 2024
Whereas Cusick’s Rivian R1T survived, different electrical autos weren’t as fortunate. At the very least six homes burned down in Florida as a result of electrical autos caught fireplace after being submerged in floodwater. In a single viral video, a Tesla EV ignites after being uncovered to salt water.
The batteries in electrical autos, golf carts, and scooters “don’t combine effectively with salt water,” Florida State Fireplace Marshal and Chief Monetary Officer Jimmy Patronis mentioned final week.
He wrote in a put up on X on Sunday that Hurricane Helene brought about 48 fires, a couple of quarter of which have been from EVs.
Let’s discuss lithium-ion battery fires: from Hurricane Helene alone we had 48 fires, eleven of which have been EVs. As soon as a hearth begins, we can not put it out. The salt water from storm surge compromises these batteries. (2/7)
— Jimmy Patronis (@JimmyPatronis) October 6, 2024
“As soon as a hearth begins, we can not put it out,” he wrote.
Cusick remains to be driving his Rivian, per social media updates this week.
