Land Cruiser? More like a Sea Cruiser with this electromodded 1978 J40 series!
On a typically sunny day in Australia, a bunch of folks decided to drive an EV into the sea. Attempting to cross Darwin Harbour reaching a depth of up to 98 feet, the ambitious underwater voyage consisted of a 4.3 miles-long journey on a seabed covered in thick mud. The chosen vehicle couldn’t have been more promising than a good ol’ 1978 Toyota Land Cruiser (LC) 40 Series — electrified, though.
Indeed, the team of Aussies chose an old LC as it was deemed a perfect base for the job. Still, the team first scrapped the Land Cruiser’s old engine and replaced it with an electric motor. Though an electric conversion might look easy, ensuring the components were tough enough to handle the underwater pressure was a bit more challenging.
To anticipate the risk of underwater electrocution, the team encased all the electrical components, including the motor, batteries, and controller, with silicon oil, creating a protective barrier against water and moisture. However, the vehicle couldn’t be protected against the metal-corroding sea water; hence, the stunt needed to be done as quickly as possible.
In addition, other preparation included preventing the vehicle from floating by filling the 37-inch tires with water instead of air while chaining an inflatable buoy to the topless SUV in case it got stuck in the mud and needed a lift. In essence, the team successfully converted a 45-year-old SUV into a semi-submarine named the ‘Mudcrab’ in only six months.
Interestingly, it wasn’t even the first time someone attempted to cross Darwin Harbour in a Land Cruiser. Indeed, back in 1983, another team fitted an LC with a 60-meter-long snorkel and many other extensive modifications to perform a similar stunt. Yet it was unsuccessful as the vehicle broke down halfway and would not start again. Perhaps thanks to modern technology, the Australian team managed to re-enact the feat and set a new world record for the longest underwater drive.
The ambitious trip started at 9.00 am and was supposed to finish seven hours later. However, due to the sticky mud and unpredictable sand of Darwin Harbour, the journey took them almost 12 hours of agonizing slow speed, averaging 0.35 mph.
Still, it was a fascinating stunt to pull. And to do it successfully while breaking a world record, it seems like all the hard work paid off — great work, guys!
Now, still wondering if you can drive an EV in the rain?
