In the run-up to Hurricane Helen, which hit the state in late September, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis warned residents to be careful about submerging electric vehicles (EVs) due to the potential for fire. With more than 250,000 EVs registered in the state, DeSantis said the vehicles you may have purchased to help fight climate change aren't necessarily the best ones to own in Hurricane Alley. I felt it was wise to tell residents that there was no such thing.
DeSantis' warning is wise
As Helen regained power, DeSantis warned Floridians:
If you have an EV, you need to move it to higher ground. Please be careful as it will be flooded. It may cause a fire.
“Please be aware that if salt water gets in, it can cause a fire,” he said at a news conference. He recalled such an instance during Hurricane Ian in 2022. “It was a really big house, but the fire started from an EV and the house was completely destroyed.”
Therefore, even if a house can withstand a hurricane, it may be destroyed by a fire caused by an EV left in the garage.
Hysterical climate change worshipers may have thought Mr. DeSantis was just making the tired climate change denial argument that electric cars are dangerous, but the Florida governor was right. Ta. If water, especially salt water found in hurricane storm surges, floods a lithium-ion battery, it can cause a fire.
Experts repeat warnings
Even branches of the US military have issued safety warnings about this.
“Exposure to saltwater can significantly degrade lithium-ion batteries and cause chemical reactions that pose an extreme fire hazard,” the U.S. Coast Guard warns in a safety alert.
EV manufacturer Tesla emphasizes that EV owners should never use a vehicle that may have been submerged in water. In fact, it should be immediately inspected by an authorized shop before use. Tesla's directive states, “To safely tow or move your vehicle at least 50 feet (15 meters) away from flammable objects, such as structures or other vehicles or personal property.”
Business Insider quoted Richard Bucknall, professor of ocean systems at University College London, as saying. he explained about lithium batteries
Particularly when submerged in seawater, they can short circuit and quickly overheat, creating a potential fire or explosion.
Unfortunately, there is no such thing as a perfect container for severe storms, so the potential for fire is no surprise to me and other engineers.
fires extreme
Additionally, EV fires using lithium batteries are extremely difficult to extinguish. In July, a semitrailer carrying such lithium-ion batteries overturned on Interstate 15 between Barstow and Baker, California, shutting down the busy highway for an extended period of time. I want you to remember. The incident caused toxic smoke to linger for more than 30 hours.
You don't need to be an engineer to know that this problem with lithium batteries indicates a possible design flaw in the EV.
Tesla says the incidence of fires in EVs is lower than in internal combustion engine vehicles. But as we continue to see, these fires are much harder to put out.
In the 1960s, Chevrolet produced a revolutionary new small car known as the Corvair. Although popular, the vehicle was removed from the market due to design flaws and a scandalous book.
EVs currently face major safety concerns. But the federal government ignores these concerns by simply shrugging its shoulders and calling it “climate change.”
When it comes to the manufactured crisis of climate change, only fossil fuel emissions have received government attention. EVs do not emit exhaust gases from their exhaust pipes. Therefore, they are good. Forget the fact that it can catch fire and burn for days.
