This is how dangerous it is when your EV ends up in the water

Waiting for your car to fill up? Bad idea!

First, some important basic tips, whether you have an EV or not. Many people think you should wait until your car is completely full of water, so that the pressure inside and outside becomes equal and you can easily open the door. Sounds logical, but practice proves otherwise. The ANWB test showed that a car quickly needs three minutes to sink completely. By that time, you have been underwater for a minute and a half. So don’t wait, but take immediate action as soon as you land in the water: unbuckle your seat belt, open your window (or smash it – the corner is the most breakable) and escape.

Do power windows still work when you go under?

Good news: even under water, the electrical systems held up surprisingly well during the test. Even after ten minutes, windows, doors and windshield wipers still functioned normally. The 12V on-board power supply didn’t give up easily, so you can often still just open the window in the first crucial minutes. But beware: this is no guarantee – in case of a short circuit or battery damage, the system can still quit.

How dangerous is an electric car in the water

Then the big question: what happens when an electric car ends up in water? The ANWB had a Citroën ë-C4 with a 50 kWh battery go into the water. The result? Virtually nothing. No short circuits, no smoke. The high-voltage system remained safely insulated. So no worries: you won’t be fried like a french fry in the deep fryer.

EV in the water

The aftermath is more complicated with an EV, though. The diesel car could be towed out of the water immediately, while the electric Citroën had to be checked for voltage by a specialist before it could be towed away. So after a crash or water incident, always apply: have an expert check that the EV is de-energized before towing or towing.

Laminated glass: silent assassin?

So an electric car poses no additional danger if it ends up in water. But the ANWB does warn about something else: laminated glass. Whereas tempered glass breaks easily with a firm tap in the corner, it’s an entirely different story with laminated side windows. This double glass, intended for soundproofing and burglary prevention, proved almost impossible to break even with a safety hammer. That can be life-threatening. Do you know someone with a Rolls-Royce or other whisper-quiet luxury car (and even in lower segments you see it more and more often)? If so, please pass this on. Wondering which tires provide the most safety? Read: The best all-season tires according to ANWB in 2025.