Now that’s what I call a ‘real world’ test! Thanks for a great video. It gives me even more confidence ahead of taking delivery of my Zoe, hopefully as soon as next week, if Renault can get the battery lease contract to be accurate.
Anybody know is it possible to buy a battery for Renault Zoe 2016 model instead to rent? And what is the price of the battery? And what size of battery in kwh?
What you should do is immediately disconnect the 12V battery until you've checked that no parts are wet, as any 12V circuits that get wet would corrode quickly
Great video Nick. I will enjoy sharing this with the sceptics at work in Derby, who wrote that off as soon as they saw it on the news. Your videos were a great factor in making my decision to go for an R40 110 Zoe - had it a month and absolutely love it.
haha, if they have any doubts tell them to come drive it and find something wrong with it, we checked the transmission oil after i finished the interior zero water in that also
PS, the HV systems are not sealed to prevent an external electric shock as you suggest to fish or similar, but because water in contact with systems at different potentials drives a rapid electro-chemical corrosion process, and hence you don't want water in your battery, motor or inverter! (There is no shock risk to external entities because the battery does not have a common earth) Units are "sealed" with breathable (goretex actually, like modern rain jackets etc) membranes, that prevent liquid water molecules from crossing the boundary, but allow air pressures to self equalise (The air molecules are small / low charge enough to get through the membrane, the water ones aren't) to prevent excessive differential pressures from building up in those units. The motor / trans assy is probably different,and most likely has an "upside down U bend" type vent to allow pressure equalisation (because it operates with a higher range of temperatures, it needs faster venting than can be achieved with a gore type membrane vent)
Cool test but you are mistaken about why you don’t want water in your battery, it’s not to protect people from electrocution. Current will pass through water to earth as long as your not holding onto a metal rod. However water plus battery = fire. If you recall school chemistry lithium like sodium when mixed with water creates an exothermic reaction and hydrogen as a biproduct. Add some electric shorts for ignition and it’s all downhill from there I am afraid.
Sorry you had this hassel, but it's reassuring how resilient the Zoe is. I guess zero exhaust pipe and limited air intake plus the electrical isolation makes for success. Thanks for sharing! Ciao.
If a non-waterproofed battery was submerged, the only things that might be affected would be very close to it - it would not "electrify" the water to any significant extent.
I love our Zoe - while the i3 is well built, there is not the same level of engineering and electric purpose built thought as the Zoe. Your video about the rear doors, and the various quirks of the i3 helped me decide to go for another Zoe. If I were you, spoil your girl with the new 50Kwh new Zoe with a nice Bose system as her next car. Making a great car even better was the right approach by Renault. Thx for letting us know that Zoe is a floater 😅
I’ve got a 5 pros and cons video of i3 recorded I did release it to my Patrons this week but managed to edit this video in time so switched it! Am very excited for Renault PR to send me a ZE50 press car but also worried it’s gonna make me buy one 😂 However I’ve got my heart set on saving for a model 3 and no way can I afford that and a new Zoe! Specially now I’ll need to keep the old Zoe for a bit as I don’t want anyone thinking am selling it due to this.
EVs don't need oxygen and don't have exhaust pipes so I guess they would work underwater if suitably sealed. That is why underwater vessels are powered by electricity and not internal combustion engines! Great video and very reassuring for all we Zoe drivers.
I think it'll be fine. Like you said, and as all Zoe owners know, the slightest electrical problem and you'll get the warning lights. I drove my Zoe through a foot of water last week in Hazel Grove after I suspect the same downpour that yours was in. I had no fears about it.....although I had completely forgotten about that battery vent. Anyway, all was well as I drove back home to Scotland.
@@NicolasRaimo well I think most EVs will be safe. I've just driven through two foot of flood water in Peugeot Ion this morning on my way to Barassie beach. No lights flashing or anything.
Hmmm maybe, I’d need to train up on EV mechanicals or train out of our staff who works on ICE it’s been on my back mind to do conversions but to be honest stress this put on me in the minute wife called me with what happened was terrible that stress lifted very quickly once I drove it back shortly after that call. Hmmm Nick Rebuilds....
Great video mate. Sad to see one of my favourite areas of the country affected by flooding and the dam issues. Glad the car and the Mrs are all good and it's great to see standards so high for these high voltage systems.
The standards for being water proof is more a legal stand point to ensure it doesn't endanger anyone around the car. However its nice to see it works! you'd expect the casing to be water proof as people would likely wade the water however learning same applies to motor and transmission was surprising to me
Yes, water is somewhat conductive of electrisity, but fresh water is not really that conductive and water is used to take our fires in electric fuse boxes, that carry up to 400v, without danger to the fireman holding the hose. Some electric cars have a bit larger output then that, but the danger is not critical as the battery would short out. You could get shocked being close to an electric car, if it was salty water and the battery was not as waterprotected as it is. French cars are not very reliable, but comfortable to drive. Electric cars in general are super reliable and the e-Zoe can very well be the best french car out there.
I drove my Zoe through a flooded road yesterday, it was deep enough that the bow wave was occasionally visible at the front of the bonnet, it went through no problem at all but it is reassuring to see how well waterproofed they are.
They are super with water seeing there electric, however if the water standing was that high when parked it would of cuased other issues as the vent value for battery and the transmission would be effected.
Wow I saw that picture on a news site and the first thing I said was "that's a Zoe!". So sorry to hear it was yours Nick! Glad to see she'll be fine after a good dry out :-)
Thanks Roger i invested as much time as i could into this one i couldn't film everything as getting to the car to rescue it was most important luckily the fire department got water levels down SUPER fast, and police closed the road off to stop the idoits creating wakes and flooding all the poor peoples homes my car was parked near.
Anybody else with a Zoe, search for the US fire service report that revealed a serious safety issue where the vent under the back seat can allow explosive and noxious gas into the cabin when the battery pack malfunctions. I believe a garage was destroyed in one of these explosions.
Great to hear that it survived! The drivers that go through the flood water and cause waves are a real pain and should probably be reported. One of my old cars flooded because the de-mister drew rainwater from outside (Not that serious except wet feet and sloshing in the footwells!!! Another car got water flooding in because the windscreen was changed, but not sealed properly (annoying, but again not as serious! Good luck with your Zoe!!
Great video, shows what EV's can do. Keep the videos coming you have answered many questions over the past months, that some of Renault salesmen couldn't ( at least they said they didn't know rather than giving a ### reply)
@@NicolasRaimo we got a 2015 model in March super car so far. Like you have had the badges replaced under warranty, radio trim as chrome was peeling. The car has 41000 miles done not been sitting about in it's past owner, keep an eye on wishbone both just replaced again under warranty. Can't complain about the warranty on the zoe anything we have questioned has been .
Thank you, that is very interesting and comforting. I wonder if our Prius would have faired so well. While we had livestock we had the inevitable Land Rovers and of course they would go anywhere in any conditions and take a 12' stock trailer with them, but they weren't strong on home comforts.
@@NicolasRaimo Our first one was a 2A with crash gears on 1st and 2nd - Christine could change through to third without using the clutch. Those were the days. Christine was once going to a gun dog show at Belle View, Manchester over the Snake and it was snowing so heavy that the police were turning everybody over the bridge on Ladybower but they saw a woman driving a Land Rover with two Flatcoated Retrievers in the back and waved her on.
Great to see the Zoe made it through. Far too many cars in this kind of situation get written off. labour costs I guess can be large if your not prepared to put in the effort. Great effort Nick 👍
Hi have Mini Cooper petrol but always used to have diesels my pal is a car dealer who has sold a few evs they are good I stay in flat so not suitable for charging plus being retired do very little miles all best will keep watching.
A colleague drove his Ford Cosworth through 8 inches of water once, The head blew off as it ingested water via the air filter inlet. My LEAF fords at 12 inches through flood water.
Great video which overcomes another of the anti-EV brigade objections. The Zoe is just a regular hatchback, not designed to go into the muck stuff you would think but I doubt a similar sized fossil powered car could have been driven away so easily after what the Zoe has been through. Seems to me that future off road EVs, such as Rivian are making only need to terminate the connectors and fuses higher up in the vehicle to give an extra bit of protection. The stats suggest that the Zoe is indeed the most reliable car made in France..
@@NicolasRaimo Thanks. I like Zoe's, and we'll eventually buy one, probably a 40, because the (better) 50's will likely be beyond our price range. We drive a 60+mpg fossil, with low annual mileage, and the maths don't add up favourably for an EV right now. The price bubble should burst soon.
@@RWBHere Price bubble isn't going to improve for 4 years. Its just gone up AGAIN, While there's not enough USED ev's out the price will remain high and as more and more people want to buy EV's demand is only going to increase and supply decrease. Its hard for my in Used car sales as do i sell my stock or buy it and sit on it 5 months. I brought 2 ZE40's July sold first one for one price decided to keep the other to get some use out of it and its now worth £1800 more! Makes me feel i shouldn't of sold the other one
Great info considering I literally just did a short road trip with the family from Aberdeen to Inverness but our trip was cut short due to flash floods in Elgin and we were terrified of damaging our leaf!
There’s a Nissan test video on UA-cam of a leaf driving threw water up to the height of the top of the bonnet however wading does have the advantage of pushing the water away, be a slightly different story at that height if the EV stopped in flood water 💦
If you havent already, make sure you check the seatbelt pyrotechnic pretensioners! They are mounted low, and you really don't want a delayed failure due to water ingress/corrosion into them, or their connectors / loom !!
Nice one Nic. It looked like you were getting emotional towards the end. I have never had an issue like this, but did have a major fault with our 2017 R90 which took our useless local Renault dealer 12 weeks to fix and I have now rejected that car. We still have a December 2018 R110 which is perfect and will probably keep and replace the R90 with an MG ZS EV......or do I wait and pay quite a bit more for Z.E.50 post Brexit?
ZE50 and Chinese build Renault going to pay same import tax’s if we do leave without a deal. What I’ve seen and heard from people who sat in the ZE50 Zoe and Mg is if your after a great EV buy the Zoe if you want a larger SUV that’s cheap get the MG I’ll leave my verdict out of it till MG lend me a press car to do a fair review on
When I seen the pics I fully expected the car to drive out of there. No exhaust system below the waterline to flood or engine sucking the water in. I would expect any EV to survive that except maybe something really low like the original Roadster. Proves just how safe they are though, especially to the people who think we can't drive them in the rain! Out of interest when you go to sell the Zoe in a year do you have to mark it as flood damaged (even if it's working fine) which will affect it's value? I don't know about anyone else but if I'm looking at 2 cars, one was flooded and the other not for the same price then the flooded one wouldn't get a look in.
Hi Ross no I don’t need to tell anyone and here’s something to note 📝 if I didn’t tell anyone no one would know meaning you could of brought any 2nd car that this has previous happens to but they’d likely of not gone to same lengths as me to ensure everything it working and dry so it’s free from faults and rust, I’ve seen some dealers jet was the interior of cars before which is far more damaging with it being under pressure
@@NicolasRaimo interesting. The reason I asked is my Dad bought a flood damaged Merc years ago. He got it for an absolute steal is they had to sell it as flood damaged (even though it had been fully repaired). He never had any problems with it over the 3 or so years he kept it.
That sounds like a flood damaged car where the water reached the bottom of the steering wheel, my water level was VERY VERY LOW It was slightly lower than the line I showed on the photo the water line that was higher appears to be the wake line. Insurance companies would flood write off a car that needed repairing an interior dry and valet isn’t counted as repair
Thanks Nick what a relief I can power wash an electric car or use an automatic car wash with no worries - I went to a local hand wash and the guy was genuinely worried he would get electrocuted if he washed it!!!
I saw an earlier photo of your flooded Renault Zoe and it looked as though the back was submerged more than the front. Had it floated in the water or had it been moved such that the photo on your video shows the front lower than the back? Do you think that any electric car flooded to a similar level would also survive unscathed?
Hi Oliver! Yep its likely no matter what electric car went into this amount of water would come out unharmed, if it was wading the water then even higher would be possible as the wake should stop it entering the cabin
I drove my Corsa through 4” of water slowly in Whaley Bridge 6 years ago. Engine sucked water in Nd write car off, known issue with Vauxhalls with low air intake. Stopped me buying Vauxhall for life!
Petrol cars never really had a use case to be water proof mainly because there’s not risk to life if not. Also they tend to have the exhaust low down which also sucks in fluid
Three days ago I drove my Opel Corsa D 2013 1.3cdti the half of the doors height almost 80cm. through the water 800m. far slowly in first gear. Engine was fine the exhaust pipe can not suck the water because is pumping the air out of the engine. So i came home with driving and i parked the car in reverse. The next day i did not drive the car, and after the next day i try to drive the car and let see what happened. The clutch disk because of the flood (dirty water mixed with mud) was stacked (glued) to the pressure plate, and when you press the clutch pedal can not move the clutch to change the gear so i start the engine and keep running in place for one hour to warm up the engine and clutch set, to release the stacked (glued) parts. On the end i press clutch pedal and everything was ok I Change the gear. Even there was a much more water, double the water high then the Zoe on the video, there was not entering any water in the car. So it was no necessary to dry the inside interior or the carpet of the car.
Thanks for that. Now, does anybody know if the same applies to a Smart four2 EV? WhIch, imho, is the best French electric car and a lot rarer here in the south of France than the Zoe .
My friend has a Zoe, he loves it, I like it, my dad likes it... I own a 207 1.4 petrol, I was looking at getting an electric 208 but their cost is rediculously high. Eventually I will most likely get an EV vehicle but it probably won't be a european car after recent events.
@@NicolasRaimo Less than the cars cost these days it seems. I don't drive much, mainly shopping and running my disabled dad around plus the occasional airsoft run out.
Well, water conductivity depends on how many minerals is in the water. Don't remember the name, but is a guy showing this by sticking his hand in weather with a live high voltage wire and feels nothing
I imagine your car after it’s total valet! Is a cleaner fresher car that before it’s untimely bath. What I would ask is how safe is the high voltage system if the car had been totally submerged in water, because one day that will happen to someone’s EV.
Hi Colin, total submersion is not good for EVs or ICE, check out some of the US UA-cam videos of Teslas that have been submerged following severe flooding the battery packs are usually full of water and or extremely corroded.
Hi Colin if water get into the battery vent value it will totally submerge the battery packs there be 100% safe to walk past and if there in the water and your in the water as that’s there design however as Paul said above it’s likely the packs will be damaged however some of cells might survive it’s a little harder on pouch cells like the Zoe to know how bad it be. Tesla cells are cylinders and worked into packs so it’s likely this may have some benefits when being salvaged.
We had electric cars in the 1920/30's, they got upto 70 miles, hybrid or not, running on electricity will still get 70 miles/ unless the battery is greater/ longer lasting, quad batteries, if we could get upto 70 miles in 1930's, our technology hasn't really advanced, we just use hybrid as away to acknowledge we haven't come along as we thought we would, ALL ELECTRIC by 2030, 2035/2040, NOTa chance, however I will be looking at how inflation goes and my view of demands, how MANY of UK requested Ev's for this moment to pass, and how MANY walk/cycle into work..?
@@NicolasRaimo you and I are techy. I have drowned too many cars. More expensive brands handled it better since they had better seals. IMHO, most issues were not ICE vs EV specific. But, when it was a high tech component (which EV has more) water damage then it was often totaled. Overall, in most cases they had different oddities which were nothing to me but Jill homemaker would not tolerate. I do appreciate your video.
Look at my channel i have a DIESEL CAR that was fully submerged for 17 hrs and it is back on the road after only replaceing 1 part the becm top bord due to water killing it so in other terms petrols diesels and electronic cars are all equal unless its been over its roof for a week any car with water damage is repairable unless ifs been rolled while in water
The idiots that created wakes are actually using the correct technique for driving through water. But apart from that, moan on. Electricity from a submerged battery goes through the water from the positive to the negative terminal. You are not going to electrify the fish or swimming dogs/kids 🤣
EVs don't need oxygen and don't have exhaust pipes so I guess they would work underwater if suitably sealed. That is why underwater vessels are powered by electricity and not internal combustion engines! Great video and very reassuring for all we Zoe drivers.
1 Year on how is the car now! ua-cam.com/video/pYveyjidLPc/v-deo.html
The should make gas vehicle water proff
How is it now 3 Years later?
@@eldievillena5011 still working!
Now that’s what I call a ‘real world’ test! Thanks for a great video. It gives me even more confidence ahead of taking delivery of my Zoe, hopefully as soon as next week, if Renault can get the battery lease contract to be accurate.
Thanks bob PS legal disclaimer “don’t try this at home”
That's what I call a Zoe submarine... lol
Anybody know is it possible to buy a battery for Renault Zoe 2016 model instead to rent?
And what is the price of the battery?
And what size of battery in kwh?
What you should do is immediately disconnect the 12V battery until you've checked that no parts are wet, as any 12V circuits that get wet would corrode quickly
Great video Nick. I will enjoy sharing this with the sceptics at work in Derby, who wrote that off as soon as they saw it on the news. Your videos were a great factor in making my decision to go for an R40 110 Zoe - had it a month and absolutely love it.
haha, if they have any doubts tell them to come drive it and find something wrong with it, we checked the transmission oil after i finished the interior zero water in that also
PS, the HV systems are not sealed to prevent an external electric shock as you suggest to fish or similar, but because water in contact with systems at different potentials drives a rapid electro-chemical corrosion process, and hence you don't want water in your battery, motor or inverter! (There is no shock risk to external entities because the battery does not have a common earth) Units are "sealed" with breathable (goretex actually, like modern rain jackets etc) membranes, that prevent liquid water molecules from crossing the boundary, but allow air pressures to self equalise (The air molecules are small / low charge enough to get through the membrane, the water ones aren't) to prevent excessive differential pressures from building up in those units. The motor / trans assy is probably different,and most likely has an "upside down U bend" type vent to allow pressure equalisation (because it operates with a higher range of temperatures, it needs faster venting than can be achieved with a gore type membrane vent)
Someone who knows what they are talking about 👍🏻
Cool test but you are mistaken about why you don’t want water in your battery, it’s not to protect people from electrocution. Current will pass through water to earth as long as your not holding onto a metal rod. However water plus battery = fire. If you recall school chemistry lithium like sodium when mixed with water creates an exothermic reaction and hydrogen as a biproduct. Add some electric shorts for ignition and it’s all downhill from there I am afraid.
Sorry you had this hassel, but it's reassuring how resilient the Zoe is. I guess zero exhaust pipe and limited air intake plus the electrical isolation makes for success.
Thanks for sharing! Ciao.
Yep spot on! less entry points to damage stuff really helps!
If a non-waterproofed battery was submerged, the only things that might be affected would be very close to it - it would not "electrify" the water to any significant extent.
I love our Zoe - while the i3 is well built, there is not the same level of engineering and electric purpose built thought as the Zoe. Your video about the rear doors, and the various quirks of the i3 helped me decide to go for another Zoe. If I were you, spoil your girl with the new 50Kwh new Zoe with a nice Bose system as her next car. Making a great car even better was the right approach by Renault. Thx for letting us know that Zoe is a floater 😅
I’ve got a 5 pros and cons video of i3 recorded I did release it to my Patrons this week but managed to edit this video in time so switched it!
Am very excited for Renault PR to send me a ZE50 press car but also worried it’s gonna make me buy one 😂
However I’ve got my heart set on saving for a model 3 and no way can I afford that and a new Zoe! Specially now I’ll need to keep the old Zoe for a bit as I don’t want anyone thinking am selling it due to this.
EVs don't need oxygen and don't have exhaust pipes so I guess they would work underwater if suitably sealed. That is why underwater vessels are powered by electricity and not internal combustion engines! Great video and very reassuring for all we Zoe drivers.
Problem is 400v or worst 800v doesn’t like water that much. Or I should say it loves water? 😂
I think it'll be fine. Like you said, and as all Zoe owners know, the slightest electrical problem and you'll get the warning lights. I drove my Zoe through a foot of water last week in Hazel Grove after I suspect the same downpour that yours was in. I had no fears about it.....although I had completely forgotten about that battery vent. Anyway, all was well as I drove back home to Scotland.
Yep David rain here been mad, we live near the Whaley Bridge Dam and this was the same night the roads started getting shut down
@@NicolasRaimo well I think most EVs will be safe. I've just driven through two foot of flood water in Peugeot Ion this morning on my way to Barassie beach. No lights flashing or anything.
Rubbish these EVs there never catch on....
I can see a spin-off channel here, Nick Rebuilds 😏 Great video and thanks for taking the time to make it.
Hmmm maybe, I’d need to train up on EV mechanicals or train out of our staff who works on ICE it’s been on my back mind to do conversions but to be honest stress this put on me in the minute wife called me with what happened was terrible that stress lifted very quickly once I drove it back shortly after that call. Hmmm Nick Rebuilds....
Will not be much rebuilding videos though with a flooded Zoe you only take out the floor carpet and dry it. And we already seen that 😂
lol ill start buying salvage zoes and building battery packs how about that?
Nicolas Raimo Yeah, and put them in old Renaults , like the the 4 or 16 :)
Great video mate. Sad to see one of my favourite areas of the country affected by flooding and the dam issues. Glad the car and the Mrs are all good and it's great to see standards so high for these high voltage systems.
The standards for being water proof is more a legal stand point to ensure it doesn't endanger anyone around the car. However its nice to see it works! you'd expect the casing to be water proof as people would likely wade the water however learning same applies to motor and transmission was surprising to me
Now wondering if the batteries will eventually require replacing all at once or as needed (and how costly and more trouble is that?)
Excellent news very interested to see how it has done in 3 months from now.
I’ll keep you updated how everything goes from this point forward but wife’s used it since I returned it to her Tuesday and seems perfect 👌
1 year on video was posted ;)
Yes, water is somewhat conductive of electrisity, but fresh water is not really that conductive and water is used to take our fires in electric fuse boxes, that carry up to 400v, without danger to the fireman holding the hose. Some electric cars have a bit larger output then that, but the danger is not critical as the battery would short out. You could get shocked being close to an electric car, if it was salty water and the battery was not as waterprotected as it is. French cars are not very reliable, but comfortable to drive. Electric cars in general are super reliable and the e-Zoe can very well be the best french car out there.
I drove my Zoe through a flooded road yesterday, it was deep enough that the bow wave was occasionally visible at the front of the bonnet, it went through no problem at all but it is reassuring to see how well waterproofed they are.
They are super with water seeing there electric, however if the water standing was that high when parked it would of cuased other issues as the vent value for battery and the transmission would be effected.
Nicks re builds ! Great video mate !
Cheers Jonanthan maybe we should do a rebuild together after that damaged leaf you had!
Thanks for the kind comments on the Zoe ;) It's got so many qualities the Zoe, confortable, reliable, takes 22kW AC charge, etc...
Wow I saw that picture on a news site and the first thing I said was "that's a Zoe!". So sorry to hear it was yours Nick!
Glad to see she'll be fine after a good dry out :-)
Well its been a week today since i gave it the wife back and the good news is still TOTALLY FINE and no smells!
One of your best and definitely very useful videos. More extreme weather likely, we need to prepare.
Thanks Roger i invested as much time as i could into this one i couldn't film everything as getting to the car to rescue it was most important luckily the fire department got water levels down SUPER fast, and police closed the road off to stop the idoits creating wakes and flooding all the poor peoples homes my car was parked near.
I wonder why they don't raise the height of the battery vent valve to inside the upper part of the quarter panel 🤔 it could then be over 1m high?
Properly impressed with your drying and especially with Renault’s electric cars.
I left it running non stop to give it a good dry and then 2 extra days to ensure it was bone dry
Anybody else with a Zoe, search for the US fire service report that revealed a serious safety issue where the vent under the back seat can allow explosive and noxious gas into the cabin when the battery pack malfunctions. I believe a garage was destroyed in one of these explosions.
Just realised who you are, we bought an MX5 off you and the service at your establishment is first class.
Cheers Mark and Jenny
Great to hear that it survived! The drivers that go through the flood water and cause waves are a real pain and should probably be reported. One of my old cars flooded because the de-mister drew rainwater from outside (Not that serious except wet feet and sloshing in the footwells!!! Another car got water flooding in because the windscreen was changed, but not sealed properly (annoying, but again not as serious! Good luck with your Zoe!!
Great video, shows what EV's can do.
Keep the videos coming you have answered many questions over the past months, that some of Renault salesmen couldn't ( at least they said they didn't know rather than giving a ### reply)
No problem John you looking at a new zoe or a second hand?
@@NicolasRaimo we got a 2015 model in March super car so far. Like you have had the badges replaced under warranty, radio trim as chrome was peeling. The car has 41000 miles done not been sitting about in it's past owner, keep an eye on wishbone both just replaced again under warranty.
Can't complain about the warranty on the zoe anything we have questioned has been .
Excellent video 📹 on waterproofing EV. I am from Australia. Just like Tesla.
Thanks! 👍
Thank you, that is very interesting and comforting. I wonder if our Prius would have faired so well. While we had livestock we had the inevitable Land Rovers and of course they would go anywhere in any conditions and take a 12' stock trailer with them, but they weren't strong on home comforts.
Yep good old defenders could go anywhere with a snorkel fitted there’s some EV defenders due soon I believe keep seeing articles with spy photos ;)
@@NicolasRaimo Our first one was a 2A with crash gears on 1st and 2nd - Christine could change through to third without using the clutch. Those were the days. Christine was once going to a gun dog show at Belle View, Manchester over the Snake and it was snowing so heavy that the police were turning everybody over the bridge on Ladybower but they saw a woman driving a Land Rover with two Flatcoated Retrievers in the back and waved her on.
Great to see the Zoe made it through. Far too many cars in this kind of situation get written off. labour costs I guess can be large if your not prepared to put in the effort. Great effort Nick 👍
Labour efforts on this would of been around £800 max
would some cars beep when it gets flooded a bit
Fantastic video very interesting well done.
Thanks Richard! nice to see you in comments do you have an EV?
Hi have Mini Cooper petrol but always used to have diesels my pal is a car dealer who has sold a few evs they are good I stay in flat so not suitable for charging plus being retired do very little miles all best will keep watching.
A colleague drove his Ford Cosworth through 8 inches of water once, The head blew off as it ingested water via the air filter inlet.
My LEAF fords at 12 inches through flood water.
Hopefully i helped dispel the myth you can't take an EV out when its raining!
Thanks very much. Very informative and useful.
Thanks Sydney! Also thanks for hitting subscribe, check out my other videos on zoe's like some of my reviews ;)
Great video which overcomes another of the anti-EV brigade objections. The Zoe is just a regular hatchback, not designed to go into the muck stuff you would think but I doubt a similar sized fossil powered car could have been driven away so easily after what the Zoe has been through. Seems to me that future off road EVs, such as Rivian are making only need to terminate the connectors and fuses higher up in the vehicle to give an extra bit of protection. The stats suggest that the Zoe is indeed the most reliable car made in France..
Great video..
Thanks so much please consider subscribing and checking my other videos there’s a few on this zoe
Good video gives us Zoe owners peace of mind . 👍
its a great car!
Thanks for the detailed description of what to look out for, Nicolas. Which model is that one, please? We love the colour!
22kwh
@@NicolasRaimo Thanks. I like Zoe's, and we'll eventually buy one, probably a 40, because the (better) 50's will likely be beyond our price range. We drive a 60+mpg fossil, with low annual mileage, and the maths don't add up favourably for an EV right now. The price bubble should burst soon.
@@RWBHere Price bubble isn't going to improve for 4 years. Its just gone up AGAIN, While there's not enough USED ev's out the price will remain high and as more and more people want to buy EV's demand is only going to increase and supply decrease. Its hard for my in Used car sales as do i sell my stock or buy it and sit on it 5 months. I brought 2 ZE40's July sold first one for one price decided to keep the other to get some use out of it and its now worth £1800 more! Makes me feel i shouldn't of sold the other one
Great job thanks Nicolas. All gives us more confidence in our Zoe. :-)
Thanks Rolf!
WOW! That's a great video!!! Sorry you had to go through this, but what an amazing endorsement for the Zoe!
Very dramatic.
Phil
Cheers Phil glad you enjoyed it please share it around to show people how amazing Electric cars can be! also don't forget to sub!
I do love a good wet Zoe.. Thanks for this nic great video
had to be one ;) lol hi craig looking forward to EV's in the park!
Interesting and reassuring - thank you.
Cheers Robert!
Great info considering I literally just did a short road trip with the family from Aberdeen to Inverness but our trip was cut short due to flash floods in Elgin and we were terrified of damaging our leaf!
There’s a Nissan test video on UA-cam of a leaf driving threw water up to the height of the top of the bonnet however wading does have the advantage of pushing the water away, be a slightly different story at that height if the EV stopped in flood water 💦
If you havent already, make sure you check the seatbelt pyrotechnic pretensioners! They are mounted low, and you really don't want a delayed failure due to water ingress/corrosion into them, or their connectors / loom !!
Checked and sprayed with contact cleaner to be sure.
I Love my Zoe too ❤❤❤
Nice one Nic.
It looked like you were getting emotional towards the end.
I have never had an issue like this, but did have a major fault with our 2017 R90 which took our useless local Renault dealer 12 weeks to fix and I have now rejected that car.
We still have a December 2018 R110 which is perfect and will probably keep and replace the R90 with an MG ZS EV......or do I wait and pay quite a bit more for Z.E.50 post Brexit?
ZE50 and Chinese build Renault going to pay same import tax’s if we do leave without a deal. What I’ve seen and heard from people who sat in the ZE50 Zoe and Mg is if your after a great EV buy the Zoe if you want a larger SUV that’s cheap get the MG I’ll leave my verdict out of it till MG lend me a press car to do a fair review on
Really helpful, thanks.
Pleasure Mike there’s a 1 year follow up video also
good vid bro :)
Thanks Malcolm nice to see you still in my comments section you been quiet recently!
i still think we need to push for RS.ZOE
@@malcolmmiddleton5883 good chance this year it might happen, maybe not twin motors but maybe 200bhp so still hot hatch.
Lol You give the french too much credit. The drivetrain is GKN which is british.
0:57 cool petrol station wow
When I seen the pics I fully expected the car to drive out of there. No exhaust system below the waterline to flood or engine sucking the water in. I would expect any EV to survive that except maybe something really low like the original Roadster. Proves just how safe they are though, especially to the people who think we can't drive them in the rain!
Out of interest when you go to sell the Zoe in a year do you have to mark it as flood damaged (even if it's working fine) which will affect it's value? I don't know about anyone else but if I'm looking at 2 cars, one was flooded and the other not for the same price then the flooded one wouldn't get a look in.
Hi Ross no I don’t need to tell anyone and here’s something to note 📝 if I didn’t tell anyone no one would know meaning you could of brought any 2nd car that this has previous happens to but they’d likely of not gone to same lengths as me to ensure everything it working and dry so it’s free from faults and rust, I’ve seen some dealers jet was the interior of cars before which is far more damaging with it being under pressure
@@NicolasRaimo interesting. The reason I asked is my Dad bought a flood damaged Merc years ago. He got it for an absolute steal is they had to sell it as flood damaged (even though it had been fully repaired). He never had any problems with it over the 3 or so years he kept it.
That sounds like a flood damaged car where the water reached the bottom of the steering wheel, my water level was VERY VERY LOW It was slightly lower than the line I showed on the photo the water line that was higher appears to be the wake line. Insurance companies would flood write off a car that needed repairing an interior dry and valet isn’t counted as repair
Thanks Nick what a relief I can power wash an electric car or use an automatic car wash with no worries - I went to a local hand wash and the guy was genuinely worried he would get electrocuted if he washed it!!!
Show him this Leo
Now all carpet is removed you can maybe add some extra sound deadening
It did cross my mind but to be honest i never had issues with zoe sounding loud and ive grown out of my subwoofer days
Why is the steering wheel on the wrong side?
I think your find it’s on the right side
Thank you I was wondering if a car like this could be escapable underwater.
EV's are great!
Wonder if the car insurance companies cover or not, or cover certain EV, that's would make much more sense as who does the most studies on EV.
I saw an earlier photo of your flooded Renault Zoe and it looked as though the back was submerged more than the front. Had it floated in the water or had it been moved such that the photo on your video shows the front lower than the back? Do you think that any electric car flooded to a similar level would also survive unscathed?
Hi Oliver! Yep its likely no matter what electric car went into this amount of water would come out unharmed, if it was wading the water then even higher would be possible as the wake should stop it entering the cabin
Pleased you managed to sort it mate, awesome car!
Cheers Mick did you keep your Zoe as well as model 3 tesla
@@NicolasRaimo yeah, the Zoe is the girlfriends car, she loves it!
I drove my Corsa through 4” of water slowly in Whaley Bridge 6 years ago. Engine sucked water in Nd write car off, known issue with Vauxhalls with low air intake.
Stopped me buying Vauxhall for life!
Petrol cars never really had a use case to be water proof mainly because there’s not risk to life if not. Also they tend to have the exhaust low down which also sucks in fluid
Three days ago I drove my Opel Corsa D 2013 1.3cdti the half of the doors height almost 80cm. through the water 800m. far slowly in first gear.
Engine was fine the exhaust pipe can not suck the water because is pumping the air out of the engine.
So i came home with driving and i parked the car in reverse.
The next day i did not drive the car, and after the next day i try to drive the car and let see what happened.
The clutch disk because of the flood (dirty water mixed with mud) was stacked (glued) to the pressure plate, and when you press the clutch pedal can not move the clutch to change the gear so i start the engine and keep running in place for one hour to warm up the engine and clutch set, to release the stacked (glued) parts.
On the end i press clutch pedal and everything was ok I Change the gear.
Even there was a much more water, double the water high then the Zoe on the video, there was not entering any water in the car.
So it was no necessary to dry the inside interior or the carpet of the car.
Love it.
They're invincible!
They are just cracking build quality!
Impressive and I’m a Leaf owner.
Leaf can do the same ;)
Nicolas Raimo Thanks appreciate the advice.
Thanks for that. Now, does anybody know if the same applies to a Smart four2 EV? WhIch, imho, is the best French electric car and a lot rarer here in the south of France than the Zoe .
in theory the battery casing should be made to at least an IP67 mark so yes same with moro its more down to where the vent value is
So why is salt water from the hurricane causing electric cars to catch fire then?
My friend has a Zoe, he loves it, I like it, my dad likes it... I own a 207 1.4 petrol, I was looking at getting an electric 208 but their cost is rediculously high. Eventually I will most likely get an EV vehicle but it probably won't be a european car after recent events.
Why after recent events...
@@NicolasRaimo Costs will most likely increase beyond what I can afford, also upcoming tax changes have to be factored in.
@@RogueWraith909 what’s your budget for a car and dayily average mileage you do
@@NicolasRaimo Less than the cars cost these days it seems. I don't drive much, mainly shopping and running my disabled dad around plus the occasional airsoft run out.
Well what’s your budget you spend on a car when you change
Just great, a Zoe submarine... he he
Great car still getting 260miles out of a zoe after three years that should only do 245
i don't think you'd die if the battery had contact with the water you're standing in
if water level above the gear nob , water will leak to the battery
Did you see the recent story on Electric cars exploding in Florida Flood.
Well, water conductivity depends on how many minerals is in the water.
Don't remember the name, but is a guy showing this by sticking his hand in weather with a live high voltage wire and feels nothing
Yea water conducts electrics different depending what you said
You finally found a good use for a wife. 😀
haha and whats that?
The car probably was designed and manufactured in Japan by Nissan and then someone put a Renault sticker over the Nissan logo.
it was very much designed by renault and in fact the new Nissans will be using more of Renault tech
@@NicolasRaimo I was teasing you😃
Let me refer you to Florida where EV’s are spontaneously combusting after being submerged. Not quite as safe as you think.
looks like only half wheel, need more water to call it drown bro :D
One inch is not enough of a flood.
Yessss the landys are makeing waves
I imagine your car after it’s total valet! Is a cleaner fresher car that before it’s untimely bath. What I would ask is how safe is the high voltage system if the car had been totally submerged in water, because one day that will happen to someone’s EV.
Hi Colin, total submersion is not good for EVs or ICE, check out some of the US UA-cam videos of Teslas that have been submerged following severe flooding the battery packs are usually full of water and or extremely corroded.
Hi Colin if water get into the battery vent value it will totally submerge the battery packs there be 100% safe to walk past and if there in the water and your in the water as that’s there design however as Paul said above it’s likely the packs will be damaged however some of cells might survive it’s a little harder on pouch cells like the Zoe to know how bad it be. Tesla cells are cylinders and worked into packs so it’s likely this may have some benefits when being salvaged.
Like the new haircut
it was seriously overdue!
Buxton Spring Water? More like Buxton sprung water.
Haha did you see follow up video that followed this a year on yet?
@@NicolasRaimo not yet
We had electric cars in the 1920/30's, they got upto 70 miles, hybrid or not, running on electricity will still get 70 miles/ unless the battery is greater/ longer lasting, quad batteries, if we could get upto 70 miles in 1930's, our technology hasn't really advanced, we just use hybrid as away to acknowledge we haven't come along as we thought we would, ALL ELECTRIC by 2030, 2035/2040, NOTa chance, however I will be looking at how inflation goes and my view of demands, how MANY of UK requested Ev's for this moment to pass, and how MANY walk/cycle into work..?
Typical electric cars sold new now so at least 200 miles with many doing 300 or more that more than enough with super fast charging
It wasnt even wet ffs
yes it survives but then gives a long list of disclaimers.
See my follow up video of it still being fine
@@NicolasRaimo you and I are techy. I have drowned too many cars. More expensive brands handled it better since they had better seals. IMHO, most issues were not ICE vs EV specific. But, when it was a high tech component (which EV has more) water damage then it was often totaled. Overall, in most cases they had different oddities which were nothing to me but Jill homemaker would not tolerate.
I do appreciate your video.
Electric vehicles are just better technology.
Amazing technology as well but just better made all around
5:19 *⇝ Famous Last Words - ⥋ Arghhhhh .⚡ ⚡ ⚡ ☠*
way over a week no issues i did take the time to spray 12v system with contact cleaner to be sure.
The french actually made something that works?????????
Amazing ain’t it
Gambling with 30 to 60k, no problem if you have plenty of $$$ to throw around.
electric cars for the win
They explode
Look at my channel i have a DIESEL CAR that was fully submerged for 17 hrs and it is back on the road after only replaceing 1 part the becm top bord due to water killing it so in other terms petrols diesels and electronic cars are all equal unless its been over its roof for a week any car with water damage is repairable unless ifs been rolled while in water
The audio on your video is terrible.
I was EXTREMELY stressed during this production and couldn't rerecord it after the idea was to capture it LIVE
@@NicolasRaimo OK. Hope you deal with your stress.
The idiots that created wakes are actually using the correct technique for driving through water. But apart from that, moan on.
Electricity from a submerged battery goes through the water from the positive to the negative terminal. You are not going to electrify the fish or swimming dogs/kids 🤣
So much bad information in this video, sorry
EVs don't need oxygen and don't have exhaust pipes so I guess they would work underwater if suitably sealed. That is why underwater vessels are powered by electricity and not internal combustion engines! Great video and very reassuring for all we Zoe drivers.
Didn't early subs have a diesel engine? Thats why they had to surface so much to replenish air?