A handful of videos have surfaced out of China showing Teslas being driven across flooded sections of roads following heavy rainfall across parts of the country.
In one of these videos, filmed from the inside of a Tesla Model 3, the driver can be seen wading through deep water without a care in the world. The water is so deep that it can be seen splashing up the windshield of the EV. Another video shows a white Model 3 driving through a flooded section of road beneath a bridge while a third video shows another white Model 3 cruising through a flooded area.
Watch Also: Driving A Tesla Model X Through Flood Waters May Look Cool But Isn’t A Good Idea
Tesla chief executive Elon Musk has previously spruiked the Model S’s ability to float for short periods of time and it appears as though the Model 3 is similarly as well equipped to deal with deep water. Tesla’s Shanghai factory even includes a testing area where Model 3s are driven through water.
Another Tesla seen from inside wading on a flooded highway in China. Not recommended but works. @elonmusk pic.twitter.com/EGnIrQKynK
— Ray4Tesla⚡️🚘☀️🔋 (@ray4tesla) July 25, 2021
As you would expect, droves of loyal Tesla fans have relentlessly shared these videos across social media, seemingly in an effort to promote the supposed ‘superiority of the brand’s models. As impressive as it might be to see a Tesla drive through a flood, that doesn’t change the simple fact that doing so is absolutely stupid.
Driving through flash floods is dumb for a number of reasons, in particular due to the fact that water levels can rise dramatically and this often catches out motorists and could claim lives. In addition, it is near impossible to determine the depth of water as you approach a flooded section of road and while a Model 3 may be able to deal with water roughly 1.5 feet deep, drivers could easily get trapped if the water was any deeper.
Sure, videos like these may look cool, but they could also encourage others to try and replicate the same stunts, potentially putting their lives in danger.
You’ve probably watched this clip from China already but many of you may not know driver & passengers were saved thanks to the wading capability of Model 3, which was coming out of a completely flooded tunnel where there were still some vehicles trapped inside. pic.twitter.com/1xMMIjJ21q
— Ray4Tesla⚡️🚘☀️🔋 (@ray4tesla) July 23, 2021
当特斯拉摁下了航海模式,
立即刹车失灵穿越洪泛区。
全国骂声叫不住,
四轮已过浊浪波! pic.twitter.com/CWcYKYt5rH
— ▹藍☣軍◃ (@_LanJun) July 24, 2021