What should I pay attention to when driving a range-extended electric vehicle through flooded roads?
The biggest difference between range-extended electric vehicles and pure electric vehicles during emergency wading is the presence of a "range extender." The range extender is essentially an engine. When the engine is running, it needs to intake air. If water enters the cylinders through the air intake, it can cause severe damage to the engine.
To reduce this risk at the hardware level, Xiaomi Pengcheng positions the range extender's air intake below the front windshield, with a maximum ground clearance of 1109 mm. This is a key measure to increase the vehicle's maximum wading depth. The N90 Max and N70 Max have maximum wading depths of 750 mm and 650 mm, respectively.
The main function of the range extender is to generate electricity rather than drive the wheels; the range-extended vehicle is driven entirely by electric motors. During emergency wading, as long as there is sufficient battery power, you can forcibly shut down the range extender and use the battery to power the electric motors to drive the vehicle. This largely avoids water entering the range extender.
Based on the characteristics of range-extended vehicles, Xiaomi Pengcheng has developed a multi-system collaborative response strategy called "Wading Mode." Before emergency wading, be sure to manually activate "Wading Mode" on the infotainment screen. The prerequisite for successfully activating this mode is that the remaining battery level is ≥15%. Therefore, please ensure you have sufficient battery charge before driving in rainy conditions or through flooded sections.
After manually activating "Wading Mode," the vehicle automatically performs the following actions:
During emergency wading, range-extended vehicles are no different from pure electric vehicles and traditional fuel vehicles. You should drive slowly at low speed, strictly control the wading time and distance, and avoid wading for long periods or over long distances.
After emergency wading, you should immediately contact a Xiaomi EV Service Center for a comprehensive inspection or repair. Otherwise, it may cause vehicle damage and safety risks.