My friends and I talk about my Prius quite often, kinda due to the fact that it is such a freaky car... but we have been wondering, what would happen if a Prius went into a body of water? Would it sizzle? Would it send a shockwave around the globe and cause an ice age? :lol: or is it so smart it would grow fins and swim to safety?
It would probably sink to the bottom more often than not, depending of course on how deep said body of water happens to be. Unless you've modified it to float or be used as an amphibious vehicle.
Indeed, this is an odd question. There were quite a few flooded Prii as a result of hurricaines, etc. last year. Don't know know if the "surplus" water did anything other than ruin electronic components. Probably wouldn't sizzle due to failsafes. Pretty sure it hasn't caused an ice age. I believe the "fin" option is part of package #10.
Hmmm, a hybrid amphibious vehicle, now there's an idea... Maybe we can creat a hybrid cruise ship? That would a be luxury liner I would love to ride!
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(remaxmanager @ Jun 8 2006, 10:45 AM) [snapback]268049[/snapback]</div> Someone should modify a Prius so it can do this: Now THAT would really be something! B)
Well if you have the shark fin antenna you could scare all the beach goers out of the water...briefly.
I wouldn't expect anything impressive to happen. Except for the oceans and a few salt lakes, virtually everything is fresh water. This has poor conductivity. The battery would see a resistance across it to discharge it, rather than a dead short. The discharge wouldn't be spectacular. This assumes that the battery terminals haven't been waterproofed by Toyota. If the car sank in salt water, then the discharge would be somewhat quicker, but still not as bad as a dead short. Either way, the water would cool the battery so well that it wouldn't overheat and burn.
I found that adding the shark fin antenna makes the car much more stable in heavy California rain. It should help underwater too. I don't know about the beach scare-factor, but it sure scares the SUVs on the freeway. They cringe at the sight of my fin, and just slink away...at about 10 mpg.
You guys are great! Rancid- The reason that Chevy is floating is the heavy useage of plastic and fiberglass LOL If I saw a Prius on the lake, I would be impressed! I am already obssessed and think it does enough odd things.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(remaxmanager @ Jun 8 2006, 01:45 PM) [snapback]268049[/snapback]</div> Many ships and some newer boats are hybrid in that they use diesel-electric propulsion, much like that used on train engines. The diesel engine spins a generator that in turn powers the drive motors. This allows for optimal torque matching and flexible placement of the engine. On some ships and tugs the motors are contained in pods that hang down from the bottom of the vessel, allowing each propeller to be independently aimed for thrust control. Tom
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(remaxmanager @ Jun 8 2006, 12:31 PM) [snapback]267986[/snapback]</div> If it's anything like this Toyota Hilux you would haul it out and drive it away. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nD0UVI99R8Q
well not to detract from the fun discussion of possibilities, but if the vehicle is submerged the car basically shuts everything down. it actually does set a code.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(qbee42 @ Jun 8 2006, 12:30 PM) [snapback]268154[/snapback]</div> those are serial-hybrids right?
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius @ Jun 8 2006, 08:55 PM) [snapback]268433[/snapback]</div> Yep. Serial. But in the case of ships, there are also dual-fuel propulsion systems: Sails for wind power and a motor for calm days, or when the wind is in the wrong direction. Sailboats nowadays are often dual-power. Unfortunately, the application of Murphey's law to sailing means that the wind is nearly always blowing in the wrong direction.
