Tata Harrier.EV Gets Royally Stuck On Beach: Toyota Fortuner Diesel 4X4 To The Rescue (Video)

Driving on sand dunes or beaches is actually tricky. If you don’t have the right kind of vehicle and the necessary skills, the chances of getting stuck in such places are pretty high. We have seen several videos where people who get too adventurous end up stuck in sand. Here we have one such video where a Tata Harrier EV gets stuck on a beach. The SUV was eventually pulled out by a diesel 4x4 Toyota Fortuner.

The video has been shared by Gopikrishna Techy on his Instagram page. It appears that the driver of the Harrier EV was attempting to drive on the beach. By the time he realised his mistake, it was too late. The Harrier.ev seen in the video doesn’t look like the QWD version.

It is the lower RWD variant, which made the situation even more challenging. Unlike conventional ICE vehicles, EVs are extremely difficult to recover once they are stuck. They don’t have an engine, and in a rear-wheel-drive EV, the weight of the motor and drivetrain is concentrated at the rear. Apart from this, there is also the added weight of the battery pack.

This combination effectively anchors the vehicle in one spot, especially when stuck on a sandy surface. Because of this, the Harrier.ev refused to move despite several people trying to push it out. We see people digging around the wheels and creating tracks for the rear tyres. They also placed wooden planks in an attempt to provide traction.

However, all their efforts were in vain. The tyres were not offering enough grip, and the SUV was effectively beached at that point. The vehicle remained stuck in the same spot for several hours. As it grew dark, the owner finally called a friend for help.

The friend arrived in a Toyota Fortuner diesel 4x4 SUV with a rope to tow the stranded vehicle. In no time, the rope was tied to the rear of the Harrier.ev, and the Fortuner pulled the SUV out. Even then, locals were present to assist the Harrier.ev owner. They helped push the EV and finally got it back onto solid ground.

This video is a great example that shows why one should avoid driving on sand or beaches in a 2WD vehicle—especially an EV. Compared to ICE vehicles, EVs are heavier, and if they don’t have AWD or 4x4, the chances of getting stuck increase significantly, as most of the weight is concentrated at the rear.

There is no power going to the front wheels, which makes the situation even more challenging. Even if it were a front-wheel-drive SUV, the result wouldn’t have been much different.

The instant torque available at low RPMs also makes matters worse, as it causes the tyres to dig into the sand without making real progress. The Tata Harrier.ev QWD or 4x4 version, however, is a capable SUV, and we have already seen videos of the Harrier EV crossing rivers and climbing mountains.