Elon Musk Explains Why "Submarines Are Just Underwater EVs"

Elon Musk took some time on Twitter recently to explain why submarines were like EVs. Submarine cars have been a long-time dream for people who are fans of spy flicks and cool vehicles altogether. But there is a real-world use for cars that can be submerged under a certain level of water, namely floods.

"A Tesla works as a boat for short periods of time, as an electric car has no intake or exhaust to block & battery/motor/electronics are water-sealed," explained Musk on Twitter. In his tweet, Musk included a video titled, "This is how to escape a sinking car."

Tesla's CEO talking about submarine cars isn't new. Musk has shared his admiration for the Lotus Esprit from the James Bond movie "The Spy Who Loved Me," which could actually turn into a submarine. Musk has even admitted that Tesla's all-electric pickup truck, the Cybertruck, was partially inspired by the amphibious Lotus Esprit in the iconic spy movie.

A Tesla works as a boat for short periods of time, as an electric car has no air intake or exhaust to block & battery/motor/electronics are water-sealed. Submarines are just underwater EVs. https://t.co/1U63ZoVj3q https://t.co/KKfcUQGYnL

— Sphere-Earthers Rūl (@elonmusk) January 25, 2020

It seems that Tesla, or at least its CEO Elon Musk, is playing with the idea of an EV that could be submerged underwater--at least long enough for people to survive such a situation. But the case doesn't have to be so dire for a submarine-like vehicle to be useful in other ways in the real world.

Floods are one way a submarine-like vehicle could be useful now. Southeast Asia, in particular, could use flood-resistant vehicles to escape during tropical storms, hurricanes, monsoons, and the like. In some instances, a precious few minutes could make all the difference. Having a car available that could weather through semi-flooded streets could prove quite the tool for survival in such a situation.

Tesla appears to be designing its vehicles to be safe for floods, if any. Footage from Giga Shanghai shows that the company is looking to design its vehicles in such a way that even the Model 3, which has low ground clearance, is able to go through floods. Instances in the past have also featured Teslas performing impeccably in water. If Elon Musk's recent tweet is any indication, it would appear that this performance in water is by design. 

Featured Image Credit: Jay in Shanghai/Twitter