Flood water from Hurricane Helenethe category 4 hurricane that it has affected six states and caused at least 230 dead at the end of September, included one 7000 pounds Rivian electric truck about 100 meters away from where it was parked. When its owner found the truck, opened its mud-encrusted door and tried to start it, he found that the vehicle had started as usual.
Rivian R1T owner Michael Cusick, a resident of Asheville, North Carolina, said car enthusiast Joshua Vincent Sauer in a viral video on social media that he parked the car on Thursday, September 26 and came to pick it up on Saturday, September 28.
@usedcarmanwnc Hurricane Helene tried to destroy a new Rivian truck! The owner thought he was totaled and went to call his insurance when his friends suggested “Boot it up”! Good by golly, he did just that and was ready for more. The interior was intact and I know how that is possible with the truck weighing 7000 lbs plus a 100 meter or more travel! #Rivian #RivianR1T #rivianttruck #RivianR1Tperformance #Rivianinuragane #RivianHurricaneHelene #flooding #uhaul #asheivlle #tunnel road #swannanoa #swannanoariver #lucky #what luck #wnc #wncstrong #ashvilje #ashevillenc ♬ original sound – USEDCARMAN
At first glance, Cusick thought it was over $70,000 EV was totaled. However, he was still able to open the door handle, and when he got in, he found that there was no water damage inside – it worked normally.
“It just started as if nothing had happened,” he said.
Hey, it's Michael Cusick from the R1T viral flood video. It is still unreal to me that my Rivian survived. Drove it 100 yards from where I parked it and apart from a little shudder at higher speeds it drives like a dream. Truly a testament to the engineering team @Rivian pic.twitter.com/mhVyMxOXnh
— Michael Cusick (@chessforgiants) October 4, 2024
For all those who have asked, here is a video of the interior, the gear tunnel and the frunk! Not a drop of water got in. If I were to speculate, this is a direct result of the engineering team @rivian and the mud being so thick that it sealed off the whole vehicle from the penetration of water. pic.twitter.com/7rZlRHRb6m
— Michael Cusick (@chessforgiants) October 5, 2024
While Cusick's Rivian R1T survived, other electric vehicles were not so lucky. At least six homes burned in Florida due to electric vehicles caught fire after being submerged in flood waters. In a viral video, a Tesla EV turns on after exposure to salt water.
Batteries in electric vehicles, golf carts and scooters “do not mix well with salt water,” said Florida State Fire Marshal and Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis. said last week.
He wrote in a post on X on Sunday Hurricane Helene caused 48 fires, about a quarter of which were from electric vehicles.
Let's talk about lithium-ion battery fires: since Hurricane Helene alone, we've had 48 fires, eleven of which were EVs. Once a fire starts, we cannot put it out. Salt water from storms compromises these batteries. (2/7)
— Jimmy Patronis (@JimmyPatronis) October 6, 2024
“Once a fire starts, we cannot put it out,” he wrote.
Cusick is still driving his Rivia, per social media updates this week.