Hurricane Helene's Floodwaters Could Spark a Rash of EV Fires

Electric vehicles don’t catch on fire at a higher rate than gas models, but when they do, it can be a real hassle to extinguish the flames. While some EV fires can be attributed to collisions and other damage, flooding can also cause problems, especially saltwater. That’s the issue faced by thousands of EV owners in the Southeast, where Hurricane Helene just left a massive path of destruction and chaos.

Before the storm, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis advised EV owners to move their vehicles to less flood-prone areas. Leaving the vehicles in standing water has been known to cause fires, and automakers like Tesla advise moving flooded vehicles away from structures until they can be professionally inspected.

The data on hurricane-related EV fires is sparse, though some reports suggest that as many as 36 EVs caught fire after Hurricane Ian two years ago. Hurricane Idalia caused several more fires in Florida last year, which the NHTSA cited as having educated owners about the dangers of flooded EVs, leading them to move the vehicles before Helene made landfall.

Flooding extended into North Carolina during Helene, overwhelming areas not accustomed to seeing such devastation. EV owners in Florida were well-warned about the incoming storm and had time to evacuate or move their vehicles, a luxury people in Appalachia did not have.

Saltwater is more conductive than freshwater and can short the battery, causing a chain reaction known as thermal runaway. Unfortunately, EVs can catch fire well after the flood waters are gone, making it vital for owners to have them inspected before charging and using them regularly.

[Images: Cadillac, Porsche, Rivian]

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