So it should be no problem at all then if owners decide to wade through a minor flash flood.
While battery safety may no longer dominate headlines, there are still those who feel uneasy about sitting directly above a high-voltage power pack. And thus to address these lingering concerns, Chery has recently stepped up to demonstrate that its hybrid batteries at least have been engineered to meet the highest safety standards.
The Chinese automaker recently marked a significant milestone in automotive safety technology with the completion of the second phase of its Global Safety Challenge in Indonesia. This rigorous battery testing campaign highlighted the exceptional durability and real-world resilience of its Super Hybrid (CSH) battery system, which it proclaims to set a new safety benchmark for hybrid vehicles operating in tropical climates such as Malaysia.
This latest safety demonstration formed part of Chery’s ongoing “Revolution of Safety” initiative, where two CSH batteries were subjected to extreme testing conditions that far exceed global industry standards. Said batteries were completely submerged in a one-meter-deep tank filled with corrosive seawater for over 53 hours, simulating the harsh environmental conditions commonly experienced in flood-prone Southeast Asian regions.
Following the intensive seawater immersion test, the battery was reinstalled into a Tiggo 8 CSH vehicle and successfully driven down a steep ramp by Zeng Shuo, Vice President of Chery Sales Indonesia, alongside Budi Darmawan Jantania, Director of Chery Sales Indonesia. This dramatic demonstration proved the battery’s operational safety and reliability even after prolonged exposure to highly corrosive seawater conditions. (Redraft this last sentence)
The significance of this test extends far beyond standard waterproofing requirements. Seawater’s high conductivity and corrosive properties create conditions that dramatically accelerate material degradation compared to typical rainwater exposure. The successful completion validates the CSH battery’s ability to operate safely in Southeast Asia’s most challenging conditions while preventing critical risks including short circuits, leakage, and fire hazards.
Rifkie Setiawan, Head of Brand Department of Chery Sales Indonesia, emphasised that this battery safety test represents a comprehensive evaluation of the CSH system’s capabilities. The seawater immersion and real-world driving evaluation validated the battery’s seal durability against corrosive liquids while examining insulation performance, structural integrity, and charge-discharge stability under extreme environmental conditions.
Chery’s confidence in this extreme demonstration stems from the advanced Guardian Battery Technology protecting the Tiggo 8 CSH battery system. The 18.3 kWh Lithium Iron Phosphate battery of this PHEV SUV possesses IP68 waterproofing certification, ensuring resistance to both water and dust infiltration.
This is then supplanted by an innovative Chainmail Battery Safety Structure, which incorporates 14 safety anchor points that boost chassis strength by seven percent and withstand extrusion forces up to 200 kN. This protection system features multilayer insulation design with ten layers at the base, fifteen on the sides, and sixteen thermal layers for comprehensive protection.
Chery’s achievement in battery safety aligns with its “In Somewhere, For Somewhere” strategy, adapting product engineering to local environmental challenges. Tropical countries like Malaysia and Indonesia face frequent flash floods, high humidity, and unpredictable weather patterns that pose significant risks to conventional battery systems. Chery’s rigorous Indonesian testing directly addresses these regional safety concerns while exceeding conventional industry standards.
The automaker’s Global Safety Challenge is to continue with upcoming tests in Mexico, where a Tiggo 7 CSH will undergo underbody scraping tests in the rugged highland terrain. And while Chery has yet to launch hybrid models under its own nameplate locally, that should change with the imminent debut of its Tiggo 8 PHEV.
