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Burning EV in flood water. Illustration from an idea by Bjorn Ulfsson / CTIF, executed by Chat GPT.
15 Oct 2024

11 electric cars and 48 lithium batteries caught fire after exposure to salty flood water in Hurricane Helene

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Burning EV in flood water. Illustration fr an idea by Bjorn Ulfsson / CTIF, executed by Chat GPT. Florida's fire marshal issued a stark warning that electric vehicles (EVs) and other devices with lithium-ion batteries could become "ticking time bombs" in the aftermath of Hurricane Milton. This danger arises from the risk of these batteries catching fire when exposed to saltwater, as was seen during previous storms.

Ahead of the storm's landfall last week,  Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis cautioned both residents and first responders about the heightened fire hazard posed by EVs, hybrid vehicles, and fuel cell products. His warning follows incidents from previous storms where floodwaters triggered battery fires, including 48 incidents related to Hurricane Helene. Eleven of those fires involved electric cars.

Lithium-ion battery fires can occur days or even weeks after exposure to saltwater. Given this, residents in surge zones were advised to move EVs and other battery-powered devices to higher ground to reduce the risk of fire. After the storm, any submerged vehicles should be relocated away from homes to prevent fires.

Similar warnings followed 2022’s Hurricane Ian, which caused fires in hundreds of electric vehicles across Florida, including 36 that ignited after water damage. Federal safety agencies, like the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), have also emphasized the danger that these batteries pose post-immersion, with the potential for fires to ignite during cleanup and recovery efforts.

Battery fires can occur hours and even weeks after electric cars are submerged in salt water, federal officials warn.

"Anything with those lithium-ion batteries needs to be moved out of the surge zones where it could be exposed to saltwater," Cathie Perkins, Pinellas County's emergency management director, said at a Wednesday morning briefing last week. 

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Hurricane Ian in 2022 caused various degrees of damage to between 3,000 and 5,000 EVs in Florida, with 600 vehicles deemed a total loss, and 36 caught on fire. 

"In several instances, the fire erupted while the impacted EVs were being towed on their flatbed trailers," the agency stated in a 2022 report.

Vehicles or other devices that are at risk for flooding should be unplugged and moved to an open space, according to guidance from both Tesla and Patronis.

 

CBS News has some further tips on how to avoid fires after an EV has been exposed to salt water:

  • Leave all windows and/or doors open to allow any potentially flammable gases to vent from the passenger compartment.
  • If the vehicle is stored indoors and can be moved, move it outside into an open-air location. If it cannot be moved, try to keep the storage area open and vented.
  • Unplug and do not attempt to charge the vehicle.
  • Disable the vehicle by chocking the wheels, placing the gearshift in park and removing the ignition key and/or disconnecting the 12V battery.
  • Avoid contact with the high voltage battery especially if a vehicle is showing signs of a damaged or overheating HV battery.
  • Follow manufacturers recommendations for your specific vehicle.  

 

Illustration Credit: Burning EV in flood water. Illustration from an idea by Bjorn Ulfsson / CTIF, executed by Chat GPT.