bpg
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Post by bpg on Jul 2, 2024 16:37:36 GMT
Reviews I've read of the 4 all comment on the ride quality, or lack of, of the higher performance model on electronically adjustable shocks. Software updates will apparently fix this. Wonder if the extra regidity at the rear of the car with extra metal has upset the engineers calculations.
Whether what motoring journalists flag up as an issue even appears on your average motorists radar remains to be seen.
Apparently, a lot of improvements over the 2 inside.
With all the rain we've had recently got me thinking where I grew up there were 3 fords within a ten mile radius of home. Typical wading depth was always around the sills/door bottoms. Anyone forded an EV ?
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Rob
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Post by Rob on Jul 2, 2024 17:26:09 GMT
Are the battery packs on all EVs fully sealed even? I know there was mention of a fully sealed battery on the new electric MB G-Wagon so that got me wondering if that's not always the case.
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WDB
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Post by WDB on Jul 2, 2024 21:43:05 GMT
Yes. It’s safe to drive an EV in the rain.
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Rob
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Post by Rob on Jul 2, 2024 21:46:40 GMT
The question wasn't about rain - that's a given. It was driving through a flooded ford. How well are the electrics sealed? The new EV G-Wagon for example has a very impressive wading depth.
Most SUVs and cars wading depth is limited as an ICE by air-intakes and a Land Rover with an air-intake high up would be better at wading. But most ICE cars have a limit to the depth they can traverse because they begin to float. But an EV SUV is heavier still so presumably can avoid floating and there's no air-intake.
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WDB
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Post by WDB on Jul 2, 2024 22:29:28 GMT
The question wasn't about rain - that's a given. Of course. And any electrical system that isn’t sealed (‘fully’ doesn’t mean much; it’s sealed or it isn’t) is going to fill up with tyre spray and stop working.
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Rob
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Post by Rob on Jul 2, 2024 23:39:36 GMT
Tell us how deep you'd take the iX through a ford confidently. Don't actually do it. But would you do say 1 metre? A Defender (air suspension) without a snorkel will do 900mm. But not much more with a snorkel because it floats.
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Rob
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Post by Rob on Jul 2, 2024 23:46:01 GMT
Apparently the iX manual says you can't drive through more than 25cm of water.... so not quite the 90cm of a Defender or even that of of a soft road Range Rover.
The actual words I think are:
- Drive through calm water only - Drive through water only up to a maximum height of 9.8 inches/25cm - Drive through water at a maximum walking speed, up to 3 mph / 5 km/h
The iX has about 9 inches ground clearance.... so the battery and/or motors cannot be submerged is how I'd interpret that.
One place I used to go often (gym in Manchester) the carpark would often flood at one point. I'd go the wrong way out at times but certainly did close to 9" sometimes when brave.
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Rob
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Post by Rob on Jul 2, 2024 23:55:22 GMT
I am genuinely curious about this but now realise after some thought EVs are likely worse than ICE for wading depth. I forgot some EVs have vents at the front to let water in to cool batteries as well. So for genuine off-road/wading we need 4x4s designed for it. I don't think an iX3 and above was. To be fair I don't think I'd go through 10" water in the Mazda as I don't know where the air intake is located.
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bpg
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Post by bpg on Jul 3, 2024 6:06:53 GMT
The reason I asked the question is because I can't find any information from the manufacturer about fording depth. General rule of thumb for fossil fuel is around the cill/sill as a typical front engine car will float away at the rear. Given half a tonne of batteries are mounted inches above the ground in my EV I wondered how this affected the car in water.
Best info I can find for my car is wading depth of 6" to 500mm, none of which comes from the manufacturer. That can be filed under B as far as warranty goes.
So, still none the wiser whether or not I can drive across a ford in my EV.
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Post by Alanović on Jul 3, 2024 8:05:58 GMT
Here's a Nissan Leaf wading through a Ford at up to 700mm:
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bpg
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Post by bpg on Jul 3, 2024 8:49:35 GMT
Thanks Al. I think it depends on the manufacturer.
Followed the Cybertruck link, tested through some impressive depths, up to the bottom of the windscreen. Some bits of trim came loose, to be expected tbh given they were driving at 25+mph in quite deep water. If you watch to the end some of the tailgate buttons don't work after the test and "you can hear some water sloshing about inside".
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Post by EspadaIII on Jul 3, 2024 9:41:46 GMT
I drove the rental Polestar 2 last November through a ford to get to the Airbnb I was staying at in rural Cornwall. Drove through several times and there appeared to be no ill effects. I would say the water was at least 6" deep, but I didn't get my feet wet to check.
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WDB
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Post by WDB on Jul 3, 2024 10:17:35 GMT
I forgot some EVs have vents at the front to let water in to cool batteries as well. Air! But the iX manual tells me not to drive into water more than 25cm deep (never sure how I’m supposed to tell) and then not to exceed 5km/h. But the water should be still, which rules out fording a river. Not sure how different this is from the advice for, say, an X5. I wonder a bit more because in the same ‘unusual conditions’ section, it tells me that if I drive with the tailgate open, I must close all the windows and turn the fan up full, which sound to me like precautions against exhaust fumes. (It must also be OK to inflict fumes on pedestrians and cyclists, just not on one’s own passengers.)
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Rob
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Post by Rob on Jul 3, 2024 14:17:45 GMT
Doh. Yes air.
I always wonder how you assess how deep water is without getting out and wading in to check it. I think the X5 wading depth is less. Makes you wonder how Land Rovers, Range Rovers and Toyota Landcruisers can do so well wading. Surely the gearbox and transmissions are not totally sealed.
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bpg
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Post by bpg on Jul 3, 2024 15:00:49 GMT
Some Fords have a depth stick at the entry point, some are in the middle. They usually measure in feet not inches, the ones I know anyway.
I think Land Rover recommend a transmission oil change after prolonged or deep swimming. I'd hope the gearbox was sealed otherwise how does the great oil stay in ? The bell housing usually has a hole on a manual to stop any gearbox oil leak building up around the clutch, can sometimes be used for inspecting the clutch before pulling the whole thing apart to replace.
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