Flood Fire Risk With EVs — At Least Some EV Packs Need Better Water Sealing

Join daily news updates from CleanTechnica on e mail. Or follow us on Google News!

Within the wake of the latest hurricane that swept Florida after which went and wrecked decrease Appalachia, I got here throughout an attention-grabbing social media put up from native authorities officers in Pinellas County, Florida. In it, we see the uncomfortable and harmful demise of a Tesla:

Electrical Autos which were flooded in saltwater can catch hearth. In the event you evacuated and left an electrical automobile or golf cart in your storage or beneath a constructing and you aren’t capable of get to it or transfer it, we would like you to tell us. /1 pic.twitter.com/dpfiXRAGuR

— Pinellas County (@PinellasGov) September 28, 2024

When salt water acquired contained in the Tesla’s storage, it flooded the automobile. This didn’t initially trigger main issues, because the automobile’s low-slung battery pack is inside a particular compartment that’s meant to maintain the water out of it. However, given sufficient time, the water managed to search out its method to the battery cells. As a result of the water had salt in it, it was conductive. This shorted out the cells, inflicting a sequence response of awfulness and hearth.

When this occurred throughout Hurricane Ian, I didn’t think it was a legitimate problem. In spite of everything, we had been assured by Tesla that the battery packs are waterproof. Elon Musk even said that they could serve as a boat in a pinch. We’ve seen tons and many movies the place Teslas and different EVs ford deep water and get by way of when different autos stall out and flood. So, it didn’t make sense that water would get within the pack, and we thought that Florida officers have been mendacity.

However, it seems that they weren’t, and it seems that it retains occurring. Given sufficient time, a Tesla (and probably another EV manufacturers) will embrace that “salt life” after which find yourself in salt demise.

What’s not clear is whether or not that is an industry-wide subject or one thing restricted to sure makes/fashions. All the fashionable EV period media studies I might discover talked about a Tesla automobile, and sometimes e-bikes and electric scooters. Going additional again, some early fashionable EVs and PHEVs from Fisker and Toyota caught hearth after Hurricane Sandy in 2012. We have now to needless to say Teslas are the most well-liked EV in america at this time by far and that e-bikes and scooters are much more well-liked. So, it’s not clear whether or not these autos are extra susceptible than others or if they only come up in studies due to sheer numbers.

All EVs Ought to Be Waterproof

Right here’s the factor: that is unacceptable. Most significantly, lives are put in danger by battery packs that may’t spend just a few days flooded with out changing into a sizzling mess. Folks evacuating ought to have the ability to repair up their properties, not come again to a home that first flooded after which burnt. If sufficient folks purchase EVs, this might change into frighteningly widespread after a hurricane. That is additionally horrible for the entire EV {industry}, because it helps cement the false concept that EVs are typically an even bigger hearth threat than combustion autos, which they aren’t.

The answer is fairly easy. EV producers have to have some delight of their work and ensure each EV that leaves the manufacturing facility can deal with immersion for lengthy intervals with out going up in flames. This may require some higher sealing the place the pack closes up. It’s positively going to require higher verify valves that hold stress from build up contained in the pack as a consequence of temperature shifts, and so forth.

This may sound like a ridiculous demand to some, however we now have to needless to say there are various different merchandise on the market that may deal with water for lengthy intervals. Telephones with an IP68 ranking are available available on the market, and there’s no cause that automobile battery packs can’t be constructed to an analogous commonplace. I’d suggest that an EV ought to have the ability to stand up to immersion in as much as 10 ft of water for per week with out water intrusion into the pack.

Featured picture: a screenshot from the Pinellas County tweet above (truthful use).