Officials warn hurricane flooding could cause electric vehicle fires

[New Sancai Compilation and First Release] Electric vehicles can catch fire if flooded with salt water, so owners who live in the path of a major storm should take precautions and prepare for the possibility of being unable to charge their vehicles during a power outage.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis this week urged electric vehicle owners to move to higher ground ahead of Hurricane Helene. Although the problem is rare, there have been a number of cases in recent years of electric vehicles catching fire after hurricanes.

Keeping electric vehicles away from standing water is the best way to avoid fires.

Tesla has made similar recommendations to avoid having its vehicles submerged if possible, but if it does happen, the automaker recommends towing the vehicle at least 50 feet away from a building or any combustible material until a mechanic can repair it. Check it out.

The best way to survive a power outage is to follow the same advice your dad gave you and keep your gas tank full to ensure you don't get stranded. Keeping your electric vehicle charged provides maximum flexibility.

Of course, EV owners won't be able to charge their cars during an outage, so they may need to watch their mileage. But the situation of electric cars is no worse than that of traditional cars, because gas stations cannot refuel during power outages.

NHTSA has been studying the issue since it was first identified in 2012 after Hurricane Sandy hit the Northeast.

Two years ago, Hurricane Ian damaged the batteries of as many as 5,000 electric vehicles, and 36 of them caught fire.

Several more electric vehicles caught fire in Florida after Hurricane Idalia in 2023, even though the storm was weaker than Hurricane Ian. NHTSA researchers speculate that it may also help more people become aware of the problem and move their vehicles to higher ground ahead of storms.

But it happens so often that Florida officials were concerned about the possibility ahead of Hurricane Helene's arrival, as they expected devastating storm surges of up to 20 feet deep in northwest Florida.

These fires do appear to be related to salt water because salt conducts electricity. Earlier in 2024, heavy rains caused freshwater flooding in California, and there have been no reports of similar problems since then.

Electric vehicles with lithium-ion batteries can catch fire if the battery short-circuits and starts to heat up. Tom Barth of the National Transportation Safety Board said if heat starts to spread between the different cells in a battery pack, it could cause a chain reaction called thermal runaway.

"If salt water is able to bridge the gap between the positive and negative battery terminals, that could cause a short circuit," said Bass, chief of the Special Investigations Division of the National Transportation Safety Board's Office of Highway Safety.

Car manufacturers do design batteries to try to prevent this problem. There are often isolation or insulation barriers between the different cells in a battery pack, and manufacturers take steps to prevent moisture from entering. But they do have to include ways to dissipate heat from the battery.

"If you submerge the battery in standing water, you're going to have problems. That's where it starts to overcome the moisture seal in the battery," Butt said.

Sometimes, electric cars can catch fire long after floodwaters have receded because salts that can conduct electricity can remain even after the water evaporates. Therefore, it is important to check if they are flooded.

"Not every flooded vehicle is going to catch fire," Butt said.

NHTSA said it is working to improve battery safety as officials learn more about the problem. The agency has proposed updating some safety requirements for electric vehicle batteries to reduce risks.

(Compiled by: Mulian)

(Editor: Jiang Qiming)

(Source of the article: Compiled and published by New Sancai)