Flood Fireplace Threat With EVs — At Least Some EV Packs Want Higher Water Sealing

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

Electrical Automobiles which were flooded in saltwater can catch hearth. In case you evacuated and left an electrical automobile or golf cart in your storage or underneath a constructing and you aren’t in a position to 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 bought 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 seek out its approach to the battery cells. As a result of the water had salt in it, it was conductive. This shorted out the cells, inflicting a series response of awfulness and hearth.

When this occurred throughout Hurricane Ian, I didn’t suppose it was a professional downside. In spite of everything, we had been assured by Tesla that the battery packs are waterproof. Elon Musk even mentioned that they might function a ship in a pinch. We’ve seen heaps and plenty of movies the place Teslas and different EVs ford deep water and get via when different autos stall out and flood. So, it didn’t make sense that water would get inside the pack, and we thought that Florida officers had been mendacity.

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

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 typically e-bikes and electrical scooters. Going additional again, some early fashionable EVs and PHEVs from Fisker and Toyota caught hearth after Hurricane Sandy in 2012. We’ve got to take into account that Teslas are the preferred EV in the US in the present day by far and that e-bikes and scooters are much more standard. So, it’s not clear whether or not these autos are extra weak 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 a couple of days flooded with out turning into a scorching mess. Individuals 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 frequent after a hurricane. That is additionally horrible for the entire EV {industry}, because it helps cement the false concept that EVs are usually a much 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 would possibly require some higher sealing the place the pack closes up. It’s positively going to require higher test valves that preserve stress from build up contained in the pack because of temperature shifts, and so forth.

This would possibly sound like a ridiculous demand to some, however we’ve to take into account that there are numerous different merchandise on the market that may deal with water for lengthy intervals. Telephones with an IP68 score are available available on the market, and there’s no cause that automobile battery packs can’t be constructed to an identical commonplace. I’d suggest that an EV ought to have the ability to face up to immersion in as much as 10 toes of water for per week with out water intrusion into the pack.

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