In may 2026, a 70-year-old man from texas, who had just bought a two-week-old cybertruck in texas, stormed lake grape wayne. He was convinced that the mask propaganda “can be used as a ship” had resulted in the car being stranded in the middle of the lake, the electronic system being scrapped, maintenance costs of up to $40,000 and being taken away by the police。
Tesla cybertruck went into the lake and ran down
During the same period, after hurricane ian in 2022, more than 20 electric vehicles in florida were blown up in the garage and some burned for two minutes。
It is true that electric cars can drive on stormy days, even less afraid of water than oil trucks - because without engine vents, batteries can be waterproof at ip67 (one metre of water bubble for 30 minutes) or even ip68 (more deeply). But it's like you're going to be able to do half an hour in a lab in a suit called "waterproof," but once you jump into the river and swim, the water pressure is several times static, and the seals will sooner or later fail。
The national standard's water-related tests of the tram actually require only 50 centimetres of water depth and a 10 km/h speed of 500 metres — a distance of 18,000 miles from what you think is “capable as a ship”。
Why can't a tram get better than a tanker when it's in water
Maintenance cost: batteries are "heart" and "gold heart"
If the oil truck is soaking, most of the engines can be broken down and repaired — several poles replaced and a piston repaired, and the cost of repairing the vehicle at the level of $100,000 is approximately $us 30,000-40,000. However, once the electric battery packs are watered, there is a general demand by the manufacturer and shop 4s that the packages be replaced and that they not be opened。
Maintenance staff perform dismantling and overhauling of water-filled vehicles
According to the data from the central insurance institute, the single-unit zero ratio of pure motor batteries was 49. 59 per cent, with a partial cost of 88,000 yuan for the 100,000 class car replacement battery. It's like your phone screen is broken, and even though it's just glass out there, the manufacturer tells you you have to change the entire module -- the price is almost equal to a new cell phone。
Why not? The third-party repair shop could not obtain bms data and could not match it, as the car company locked the diagnostic system with code. Although the ministry of industry and communications had sent a letter requesting the opening of technical information, it still needed some time to land。
Total loss of insurance: insurance companies are more inclined to “disposal” after a tram
The total loss rate is approximately 20-30 per cent for oil tankers and 60-70 per cent for electric tankers (summary data, industry estimates). The reason is simple: changing batteries is too expensive to fix engines, and the insurance company will pay you in full damages and save you any further trouble. New energy vehicles risked 2. 2 times as much as fuel trucks, with an industry-wide insurance loss of $5. 6 billion in 2025。
That means you're overpaid and you're not covering the real risks。
Quiet trap: the pilot doesn't know he's flying
When the tankers are involved, the engine sounds boring and the vents bubble, and the driver knows the depth of the water as soon as he hears it. Where's the tram? Quiet as a ghost ship — no engine sounds, you can't hear any warning. Many of the owners thought that “it's okay if it doesn't turn off the fire”, and as a result the car was floating in the water, the steering wheel got out of control and the door couldn't be opened by the water。
It's like walking behind your eyes, thinking you're on a flat ground, and you're actually in a river。
The truth behind this contrast
A tram has a strong water-related capacity and is “the truth in the image” — it is just a lethal short plate without venting, but it is far less resistant to “water and amphibious”. Water is difficult to recover because batteries are too expensive, maintenance is monopolized and insurance companies cannot afford to pay. Three things collide together, creating a seemingly contradictory and well-structured situation。
For the owner, it's enough to remember that a tram can drive 20 centimeters more water than a gas truck, but you'll spend three times more when you get in water. Don't believe in "when the boat leaves" on stormy days. After the bulge, the power was out, the tow truck was called, and the second start was made — the most valuable operation, regardless of the tanker train。
