How to waterproof our i-MiEV

[peterdambier]

Cats and electric cars are shy of water. Except this one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJC7E06IBXI

It is not a Tesla although it looks like one, because of the same Lotus Elise and it is even a Cabri au Lait.

I do not want to go fishing and I do not want to cross the Channel in our little "I" but right now we have received a hit that filled our umbrellas to the rim and some even more than that.

http://www.spiegel.de/fotostrecke/photo-gallery-europe-battles-flood-damage-fotostrecke-97617.html

http://www.spiegel.de/fotostrecke/p...through-central-europe-fotostrecke-97569.html

Most cars dont like water but some can survive it. I did have a look under our little "i"s skirt. Not an easy task I guess.

 

[Don]

Peter,

I have a photo of a red and white iMiEV in Mitsu's 'test tank' and it looks like as long as you don't get any water inside the car, you're OK. The photo shows the centers of the wheels underwater, a 'wake' of water pushed up on the hood as far as the three diamond emblem and the water right at the lower seam of the doors . . . . and it's driving through it

I wouldn't recommend fording any streams. but from what I understand, so long as the top of the battery compartment doesn't go underwater, everything else is sealed

Don

 

[bruisepristine]

Water and electricity do not mix, so it is understandable that this question always appear in the minds of consumers. Mitsubishi says the i-MiEV is tested at up to 30 cm water wading depth, the common standard for passenger cars.

Even BMW's owner's manual says 'Do not drive through water on the road if it is deeper than 30cm, and then only at walking speed at most. Otherwise, the vehicle's engine, the electrical systems and transmission may be damaged.'

From: http://www.cbt.com.my/2012/04/27/i-miev-test-real-world/

 

[Don]

The photo of the red and white one in that article is the same one I mentioned - Thanks for posting the article

30cm is about a foot of water, so that's just a little above the center of the hubcaps . . . . a couple inches below the door jambs

Don

 

[peterdambier]

That 30 cm are not much. For driving, yes, but in case it is raining more than cats and dogs it might be tricky to lift our car enough to keep it out of the water in case our parking gets flooded. After all it is narrow ...

My best guess is someting like that

http://www.capetocape.org.uk/Amphib%20Develop.htm

makes it wider to stabilize it. I do not need to carry it around every day but having it in the yard just in case...

They have promissed more rain for this weekend and them dams are still soaked with water.

Thankyou for the images. Good to know how far to keep her out of the water.

 

[MLucas]

I wish there was a way to seal up the battery compartment in case of a flood situation. That flooded i-MiEV Benjamin Nelson bought would not have been so damaged. Most of the components on the car are nicely sealed up from water and moisture. I think most of the water comes through the air conditioning input and the fan in the back of the battery pack. That would be a nice option to be able to pull a cable and close those ports temporarilly.