Tesla Model S tests ‘submarine mode’

“Boat mode” Tesla Model 3 pictures from flooded parts of China have been popular, but a Tesla Model S has gone a step further in Helen, Georgia, going to almost “submarine mode” after a tropical storm.

A Tesla’s battery and powertrain are tightly sealed and the EVs seem to deal with flooded roads very well, but some water levels may prove too risky, Teslarati reports in showing the Model S submerged to the bottom of its windscreen.

Luckily for the owner the Model S emerged unscathed, amazing nearby motorists, although Teslarati suggests it could have been an expensive excursion had things gone horribly wrong.

Tesla chief executive Elon Musk has previously said Teslas can operate as impromptu boats for short spells, illustrated by Model 3 owners negotiating flooded areas in China.

China-made Teslas are tested in the Gigafactory Shanghai’s flood simulator so they can handle most scenarios from China’s many typhoons.

Whether the Tesla Cybertruck, delayed until 2022, can pull a similar trick remains to be seen.

Still, nearly submerging a Tesla in floodwaters doesn’t come highly recommended.