Avoid Riding An EV Through Extreme Waterlogged Roads, Dangers Explained

The monsoons are here, bringing chaos and drama all along with it. And with it, you are bound to encounter how poorly set up our public infrastructure is, as potholes and severe waterlogging become primary irritants. Take this recent incident where a Vadodara man took his Ola e-scooter through a waterlogged road where the level of the water had risen up to the scooter’s headlight, submerging nearly the entire scooter and most of the man as well.

While it does show our roads’ pitiful state, taking such measures could prove to be quite dangerous. Not only for the rider but also the vehicle.

Injuries

There’s no question that in the event of a crash riding without riding gear will lead to far more serious injuries than riding with. Yes, it doesn’t totally make you invincible or impervious to any injury but it still will be far better than a broken bone or two, or worse death. We did a video recently on World Motorcycle Day where we built a starter riding gear kit for under ₹30,000. Just add a pair of rain jackets over the gear and you should be good to go.

Vehicle Related Troubles

EV makers take real steps to make sure that your prized possessions are safe to operate in the event of rain. Usually, the battery and motor have an IP 67/68 rating that will make it safe for you to operate them in the heaviest of downpours. However, it still isn’t a boat or a submarine. These ratings aren’t meant to be put to the test in an everyday cycle, especially not by riding through waist-deep water.

Now, Ather had put up a video showing that its Rizta could clear over 400 mm of water but that was again to showcase the robustness of the e-scooter. Such stunts as the man in Vadodara could cause some serious damage to the motor’s internals and such irresponsible riding will not be covered in the warranty.

Furthermore, it was done under test conditions where everything was done in a controlled manner. In the real world, with the condition of the road beneath being quite unknown, you are taking major risks. Like we mentioned, potholes, loose drain covers, speed bumps will upset the momentum, potentially causing you to lose the balance and fall.

Hence, this monsoon, while we cannot control the elements around us, it is better to stay wise and protected. Please, do not engage in such harmful riding activities and enjoy the experience of riding in the rain.