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Watch A Rivian R1T Truck Effortlessly Dominate A Water Crossing
March 30, 2022
by Michael Butler Video / 12 Comments
EVs aren't afraid of some water.
Rivian might be struggling with production issues, and prospective owners have been hit with some seriously unruly price increases in recent months, but that doesn't take away from the fact that the all-electric Rivian R1T Truck is an awesome-looking thing that actually performs well off-road.
We've seen the R1T tackle the snow and embarrass established off-roaders such as the legendary Toyota Land Cruiser. It seems like the R1T is unstoppable, and this latest video just goes further to prove that there are very few things that can get in the way of a Rivian R1T truck and its end destination - including a buttload of water.
In a video shared by R1T owner Nuwan Rajapakse, we get to see one of the first real water crossing attempts in the new EV. Rivian officially advertises the R1T truck's maximum wading depth as 3+ feet. In the video, the Rivian truck is seen wading into some muddy Mojave water.
The water level eventually goes above tire level, but the R1T happily continues on. Those who have seen ICE vehicles cross water like this would've noticed those snorkel-looking things creeping up the side of most off-road cars. That's the intake that keeps the car from sucking in water. Electric vehicles don't have this problem, as they don't need air to operate and don't mind getting their bits a bit damp. When ICE vehicles suck up water, it can cause hydro-locking, which causes serious internal damage to the engine.
The all-electric R1T truck makes use of four electric motors with a combined power output of 800 horsepower and 908 lb-ft of torque. This makes it the perfect choice for slow mud and rock crawling, and it clearly loves the water too.
It should be mentioned that the R1T truck is still a traditional car in the sense that it has lots of metal bits that can rust, and sensitive electronics that will eventually make contact with water and have a fit. We recommend sticking to the three-foot wading recommendation from Rivian, even if this truck could probably drive underwater if it really wanted to.
