News/Commentary

Florida fire department warns EV owners about risk triggered by Hurricane Idalia impact

September 3, 2023 | | Print Article

A Florida fire department has warned locals affected by Hurricane Idalia to be careful with their electric vehicles, lest their batteries catch fire.

But why would Hurricane Idalia cause an electric vehicle battery to catch fire? Because “[s]altwater exposure can trigger combustion in lithium-ion batteries,” according to Palm Harbor Fire Rescue.

“If you own a hybrid or electric vehicle that has come into contact with saltwater due to recent flooding within the last 24 hours, it is crucial to relocate the vehicle from your garage without delay. Saltwater exposure can trigger combustion in lithium-ion batteries. If possible, transfer your vehicle to higher ground,” the department wrote on Facebook last Wednesday.

“This includes golf carts and electric scooters. Don’t drive these through water. PHFR crews have seen numerous residents out in golf carts and children on scooters riding through water,” the department added.

Look:

Minutes ago, Tesla fire in Dunedin ⬇️ Follow our warning ⛔️ below.

⚠️WARNING ⚠️
If you own a hybrid or electric…

Posted by Palm Harbor Fire Rescue on Wednesday, August 30, 2023

The post was reportedly inspired by a car in Dunedin that become flooded with saltwater during the hurricane and subsequently caught fire.

Something similar happened Thursday as well.

“In Pinellas Park, on Aug. 31, a Tesla owner called a tow truck to move his flooded car. … When the car was on the back of the truck, it suddenly burst into flames, leaving behind a charred frame when the fire was finally subdued,” according to the Miami Herald.

The same thing also repeatedly occurred in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, a Category 5 hurricane that ravaged parts of Florida in 2022.

“In the weeks following the saltwater surge, there were 12 reports of electric vehicle fires in Collier and Lee counties, according to the U.S. Fire Administration. One of those fires grew so severe it burned down two houses on Sanibel Island,” the Herald notes.

In a statement, the U.S. Fire Administration said, “[R]esidual salt within the battery or battery components can form conductive ‘bridges’ that can lead to short circuit and self-heating of the battery, resulting in fires. The time frame in which a damaged battery can ignite has been observed to vary widely, from days to weeks.”

The only potential good news is that Tesla, the top manufacturer of EVs, is fully aware of the problem and even provides some guidance for it on its website.

“Tesla wants to ensure you have the information you need to should there be a risk of vehicle submersion or if your vehicle experiences submersion in water. If you notice fire, smoke, audible popping/hissing or heating coming from your vehicle, step away and immediately contact your local first responders,” its website states.

The site goes on to provide exact instructions on what to do if an electric vehicle ever becomes submerged in saltwater even for the shortest of time:

  1. “Treat your vehicle as if it has been in an accident and contact your insurance company.”
  2. “Do not attempt to operate the vehicle until an authorized shop has inspected it. If you are a Tesla vehicle owner, you can schedule your inspection with Tesla Service.”
  3. “Safely tow or move the vehicle at least 50 ft (15 m) from structures or other combustible materials such as other cars and personal property.”

It’s important to realize that this can happen to ANY electric vehicle.

“I have heard EV owners say, ‘I don’t have an engine that can be flooded so I can drive in deep water.’ That’s not the case,” Patrick Olsen, a spokesperson for Carfax, told CBS News.

Moreover, just leaving the vehicle where it’s at is NOT a solution, according to Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis, whom Fox Weather describes as a leading voice on this issue.

“If you’re evacuating and leaving an EV, or other lithium ion powered devices like scooters or golf carts in your garage, you’re creating a real fire threat for your home, your communities, and first responders. Take this threat seriously. If there’s even a small risk of your EV being impacted by storm surge, move it to higher ground before it’s too late,” he told the outlet.

“We saw a number of fires associated with EVs from Hurricane Ian. We know that the saltwater from storm surge can compromise these batteries, causing fires which cannot be easily suppressed. The best fire teams can do is keep water on the battery until the fuel burns out,” he added.

Vivek Saxena
Latest posts by Vivek Saxena (see all)

Comment

We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.

Latest Articles