Chery has reached a new milestone in its commitment to hybrid vehicle safety with the completion of the second phase of its Global Safety Challenge in Indonesia. The test, which focused on the resilience of the Chery Super Hybrid (CSH) battery system, highlights the brand’s confidence in the reliability of its electrified technology under extreme tropical conditions. This same battery system is expected to be made available to Malaysian consumers, bringing a new benchmark in safety to the local market.
As part of Chery’s ongoing ‘Revolution of Safety’ initiative, the test subjected two hybrid batteries to 53 hours of submersion in a one-metre-deep tank filled with seawater—an environment deliberately designed to mimic the corrosive, high-pressure conditions experienced in flood-prone regions. This scenario was not theoretical; it was carried out in full view of local and international media.
Once the batteries emerged from the extended immersion, they were reinstalled into a TIGGO 8 CSH model. To prove the real-world viability of the battery post-submersion, the SUV was driven down a steep ramp by Zeng Shuo, Vice President of Chery Sales Indonesia, accompanied by Director Budi Darmawan Jantania. The vehicle operated flawlessly, offering a powerful demonstration of its safety integrity even after prolonged exposure to seawater.
According to Rifkie Setiawan, Head of the Brand Department at Chery Sales Indonesia, the purpose of the test was not just to meet existing safety standards, but to redefine them. He stated that Chery used the seawater immersion scenario to rigorously evaluate the battery’s sealing integrity, electrical insulation, structural durability, and charge-discharge stability. These stringent checks confirmed that the CSH battery is engineered to withstand Southeast Asia’s harshest environmental challenges.
Unlike conventional waterproof tests that may rely on freshwater or rain simulations, this experiment introduced seawater, a far more aggressive agent due to its conductivity and corrosiveness. Such conditions dramatically accelerate material degradation, making the success of this trial all the more significant. The results confirmed that Chery’s battery is not only waterproof but also resilient against risks such as corrosion, short circuits, leakage, or fire.
This extraordinary performance stems from Chery’s advanced Guardian Battery Technology. Used in the TIGGO 8 CSH, the battery is an 18.3kWh Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) unit, certified with an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance. It remains operational in extreme temperatures ranging from -35°C to 60°C and offers up to 90 km of electric-only range. The battery can also be fast-charged via a CCS2 connector from 30% to 80% in just 20 minutes.
The battery pack is secured using Chery’s proprietary Chainmail Battery Safety Structure, which features 14 anchor points that increase chassis rigidity by 7% and can withstand extrusion forces of up to 200 kN. Further reinforcing this structure is a multilayer insulation system, comprising 10 layers at the base, 15 at the sides, and 16 thermal barriers.
Chery has previously validated this battery technology in its domestic market through a battery of punishing trials including spiral rollovers, dual vehicle collisions, a 7-car stack, 55 km/h side intrusion impacts, a 4.9-metre vertical drop, and 720-hour salt spray exposure. These tests have established the CSH battery as one of the most durable power units in its class.
This latest trial in Indonesia marks an important adaptation of Chery’s global safety strategy to the specific challenges faced in tropical regions like Malaysia and Indonesia. Both countries frequently experience flash floods and high humidity, conditions that pose unique risks to conventional EV battery systems. By testing in real tropical environments, Chery reinforces its “In Somewhere, For Somewhere” engineering approach, which tailors product development to local climate and road conditions.
With Indonesia’s test now concluded, Chery is preparing for the next leg of its Global Safety Challenge in Mexico. There, the CSH-equipped TIGGO 7 will undergo a rigorous underbody scraping assessment, designed to simulate the rough terrain and high-altitude driving typical of the Mexican highlands. This test will evaluate both the physical durability of the battery pack and its performance at elevation.
Further stops in Chery’s global testing programme are already planned, including South Africa and Brazil. Each country presents its own unique climate and road challenges, and Chery intends to demonstrate the adaptability of its electrified technologies under real-world conditions in every market. Through this ambitious campaign, Chery aims to establish new global standards in safety for hybrid and electric vehicles.
With the inclusion of Malaysia in its long-term electrification and safety strategy, Chery is setting the stage for a new era of consumer confidence in hybrid technology across Southeast Asia.
