{"id":2346935,"date":"2024-09-27T19:04:59","date_gmt":"2024-09-27T23:04:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ev-owners-hit-by-hurricane-urged-to-tow-vehicles-away-from-structures-objects\/"},"modified":"2024-09-27T19:08:33","modified_gmt":"2024-09-27T23:08:33","slug":"ev-owners-hit-by-hurricane-urged-to-tow-vehicles-away-from-structures-objects","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ev-owners-hit-by-hurricane-urged-to-tow-vehicles-away-from-structures-objects\/","title":{"rendered":"EV Owners Hit by Hurricane Urged to Tow Vehicles Away from Structures, Objects"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">26<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fev-owners-hit-by-hurricane-urged-to-tow-vehicles-away-from-structures-objects%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2346935&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>As Hurricane\u200b Helene approaches, Florida officials \u2064are advising\u2063 electric vehicle (EV) owners to move their cars to higher ground, as \u2064submerged vehicles can catch fire \u200cdue to exposure \u2063to saltwater. While such incidents are\u200c rare, \u2064there \u2063have been occurrences in recent \u200churricanes, with \u2063notable cases after Hurricane Ian and Hurricane Idalia\u200d where multiple \u200bEVs ignited after being compromised by floodwaters. <\/p>\n<p>The \u200brisk arises\u200c when saltwater bridges the battery terminals, potentially\u200c causing\u2062 a short circuit and \u2063leading to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/lilium-aims-to-build-400-air-taxis-a-year-seek-grants\/\" title=\"Lilium aims to build 400 air taxis a year, seek grants\">thermal runaway<\/a>, a chain reaction that can ignite the batteries. \u2063Carmakers design their vehicles with moisture prevention mechanisms, but submersion can compromise these safeguards. EV owners are recommended to keep\u200d their batteries \u200dcharged ahead of \u200dstorms, \u2063as all vehicles \u200bface challenges during\u2063 power\u200b outages. \u2064The \u2064National Highway Traffic Safety Administration \u200d(NHTSA) is researching \u2064these issues to\u200d improve battery safety standards to mitigate\u200c such risks in the future. <\/p>\n<p>EV owners in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/tropical-storm-ophelia-forms-off-the-us-mid-atlantic-coast-expected-to-bring-heavy-rain-and-wind\/\" title=\"Tropical Storm Ophelia emerges near US Mid-Atlantic, brings rain and wind.\">hurricane-prone areas<\/a> should \u200btake precautions against flooding, as \u2063saltwater\u200b poses a specific threat to battery safety.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<section> <script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>Electric vehicles can catch fire if they are inundated by saltwater, so owners who live in the path of a major storm like Hurricane Helene should take precautions and prepare for the possibility that they&rsquo;ll be unable to charge their cars during a power outage.<\/p>\n<p>Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis urged EV owners this week to get their vehicles to higher ground before Hurricane Helene arrived. Although the problem is rare, there have been a number of instances in recent years of electric vehicles igniting after hurricanes.<\/p>\n<p>Keeping electric vehicles out of standing water is the best way to avoid the possibility of a fire.<\/p>\n<p>Tesla offers <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tesla.com\/support\/submerged-vehicle-guidance\">similar advice<\/a> about avoiding letting its vehicles become submerged if at all possible, but if that does happen the carmaker suggests towing the vehicle at least 50 feet away from structures or anything combustible until it can be inspected by a mechanic.<\/p>\n<p>The best way to get through a power outage is to follow the same kind of advice your dad may have given you about keeping your gas tank full to make sure you wouldn&rsquo;t be stranded. Keeping your electric vehicle charged offers the most flexibility.<\/p>\n<p>  <script> \t\t\t\tif( ! getCookie( 'ff_subbed' ) ) if( typeof FFADS.replace_ict !='undefined' ) if( FFADS.replace_ict ) eval( FFADS.replace_ict ); \t\t\t<\/script> <\/p>\n<p>Of course, electric vehicle owners won&rsquo;t be able to charge their cars during a power outage, so they may need to watch how much they drive. But EVs aren&rsquo;t any worse off than conventional vehicles because gas stations can&rsquo;t pump fuel in a power outage either.<\/p>\n<p>The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has been researching <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/JimmyPatronis\/status\/1580963218155270146\/photo\/1\">this problem<\/a> since it was first seen after Hurricane Sandy struck the Northeast in 2012. But no one seems to have detailed statistics on just how often this happens.<\/p>\n<p>Two years ago, Hurricane Ian compromised the batteries of as may as 5,000 electric vehicles, and 36 of them caught fire.<\/p>\n<p>Several more electric vehicles caught fire in Florida last year after Hurricane Idalia, although that storm was weaker than Ian. Researchers at NHTSA speculated that it may have also helped that more people were aware of the problem and moved their vehicles to higher ground before that storm.<\/p>\n<p>But it happens often enough that Florida officials were worried about the possibility before Hurricane Helene arrived because they were expecting a potentially devastating <a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/storm-surge-hurricane-helene-danger-18d2c9bbcda58855f09cef32b5a53e18\">storm surge<\/a> up to 20 feet deep in the northwestern part of Florida.<\/p>\n<p>These fires do seem to be linked specifically to saltwater because salt can conduct electricity. Similar problems haven&rsquo;t been reported after freshwater flooding in California that was driven by heavy rains early this year.<\/p>\n<p>Electric vehicles with lithium ion batteries can catch fire if the batteries short circuit and start to heat up. Tom Barth with the National Transportation Safety Board said that if the heat starts to spread between different cells in the battery back it can cause a chain reaction called thermal runaway.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;If the saltwater is able to bridge the gap between the positive and negative terminals of battery, then it can cause a short circuit,&rdquo; said Barth, who is chief of the special investigations branch of the NTSB&rsquo;s office of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/rep-chip-roy-introduces-amendment-to-fund-border-wall-by-cutting-wasteful-spending\/\" title=\"Rep. Chip Roy Introduces Amendment To Fund Border Wall By Cutting Wasteful Spending\">highway safety<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Carmakers do design their batteries to try to prevent this problem. There are often separations or insulation barriers between different cells in the battery pack, and manufacturers take steps to keep moisture out. But they do have to include ways for the batteries to vent heat.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Where it begins to be a problem is if you have the batteries submerged in standing water. That&rsquo;s where it starts to overcome the moisture seals in the battery,&rdquo; Barth said.<\/p>\n<p>Sometimes electric vehicles can catch fire long after the floodwaters have receded because even after the water evaporates salt that can conduct electricity may be left behind. So it&rsquo;s important to have them checked out if they are submerged.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s not like every vehicle that gets flooded is therefore going to ignite and catch fire,&rdquo; Barth said.<\/p>\n<p>The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said it is working to improve battery safety as officials learn more about the problems. The agency has proposed updating some of the safety requirements for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/bidens-cabinet-could-delay-tax-bills\/\" title=\"Biden&#039;s Cabinet Could Delay Tax Bills\">electric vehicle batteries<\/a> to reduce the risks.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-style: italic;\">The Western Journal has not reviewed this Associated Press story prior to publication. Therefore, it may contain editorial bias or may in some other way not meet our normal editorial standards. It is provided to our readers as a service from The Western Journal.<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\">  <\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> <label>* Name<\/label> <br \/> <input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> <\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> <label>* <\/label> <br \/> <input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> <\/div>\n<p> <label>* Message<\/label> <br \/> <textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea>  <\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> <input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\">  <\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> <script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey==typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts={ \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs=[ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i=0; i <inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! ( opts[inputs[i]]=document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"' + inputs[i] + '\"]' ).value ) ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .required-message' ).style.display='block'; \t\t\t\t\t\treturn; \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction input[type=\"submit\"]' ).style.display='none'; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).src=firefly_loading_gif_url; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).style.display='inline-block';  \t\t\t\t\tconsole.log( 'ma subbing' );  \t\t\t\t\tif( firefly_post_id ) opts['post_id']=firefly_post_id;  \t\t\t\t\t\/* Send the data using post with element id name and name2*\/ \t\t\t\t\tvar posting=jQuery.post( firefly_ajax_url, opts );  \t\t\t\t\t\/* Alerts the results *\/ \t\t\t\t\tposting.done( function( response ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tif( response.success ) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.log( response.data ); \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).style.display='none'; \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-confirm' ).style.display='block';  \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdataLayer.push( { 'event': 'submit-correction' } ); \t\t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t} \t\t<\/script>  <\/div>\n<p style=\"border: 1px solid #f5f5f5; padding: 16px;\">Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/advertise-us\/?wj_source=article\">Advertise Today<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><script>console.log(\"ad slot (BA1)\")<\/script> <\/p>\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\">  <\/div>\n<style> \t\t\t \t\t\t.insticator-unit.type-commenting{margin: 0 10px 25px 10px}@media screen and (max-width:1060px){#div-insticator-ad-cmt-1, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-2, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-3, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-4{margin: 0 auto 25px auto !important;}}#div-insticator-ad-cmt-1, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-2, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-3, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-4{height: 280px !important; width: 336px !important} \t\t<\/style>\n<div class=\"insticator-unit type-commenting\">\n<div class=\"insticator-ads\">   <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\"> \t\t\t\t\tif ( ! getCookie( \"ff_subbed\" ) ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tInsticator.ad.loadAd(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-1\"); \t\t\t\t\t\tInsticator.ad.loadAd(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-2\"); \t\t\t\t\t} else { \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-1\").remove() \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-2\").remove() \t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t<\/script> <\/div>\n<div class=\"insticator-ads additional\">   <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\"> \t\t\t\t\tif ( ! getCookie( \"ff_subbed\" ) ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tInsticator.ad.loadAd(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-3\"); \t\t\t\t\t\tInsticator.ad.loadAd(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-4\"); \t\t\t\t\t} else { \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-3\").remove() \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-4\").remove() \t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t<\/script> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Electric vehicles can ignite if exposed to saltwater, so owners in the path of significant storms like Hurricane Helene should take precautions and be ready for potential charging disruptions during power outages. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis advised EV owners to move their vehicles to higher ground ahead of the storm. While such incidents are uncommon, there have been cases of electric vehicles catching fire after hurricanes. To minimize fire risks, it&#8217;s best to keep these vehicles away from standing water. Tesla also recommends avoiding submersion and suggests towing any submerged vehicle at least 50 feet from flammable structures until it can be inspected by a mechanic. Maintaining a charged battery is crucial for flexibility during outages, as electric vehicle owners won&#8217;t be able to charge their cars when the power is out\u2014similar to how gas stations can&#8217;t pump fuel without electricity. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has been studying this issue since Hurricane Sandy in 2012 but lacks detailed statistics on its frequency. After Hurricane Ian two years ago, around 5,000 electric vehicle batteries were compromised, leading to 36 fires; more fires occurred following Hurricane Idalia last year despite it being less severe than Ian. Awareness may have contributed to fewer incidents as people moved their cars before the storm hit.<\/p>\n<p>Florida officials expressed concern about potential fires before Hurricane Helene due to expected storm surges up to 20 feet deep in northwestern Florida. These fires appear linked specifically to saltwater because salt conducts electricity; similar issues haven&#8217;t arisen from freshwater flooding in California earlier this year. Lithium-ion batteries can catch fire if they short circuit and overheat due to thermal runaway\u2014a chain reaction that occurs when heat spreads between battery cells.<\/p>\n<p>Tom Barth from the National Transportation Safety Board explained that if saltwater bridges positive and negative terminals of a battery, it could cause a short circuit. Manufacturers design batteries with barriers and moisture prevention measures but must also allow for heat venting; problems arise when batteries are submerged in standing water that breaches moisture seals.<\/p>\n<p>Sometimes fires occur long after floodwaters recede because residual salt can remain even after evaporation; thus, it&#8217;s essential for submerged vehicles to undergo inspection afterward. Barth noted not every flooded vehicle will ignite or catch fire.<\/p>\n<p>The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is working on enhancing battery safety as they gather more information about these issues and has proposed updates on safety requirements for electric vehicle batteries aimed at reducing risks<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2346936,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/417e2aed0f0d4e54869e7f70e9208632-scaled-e1727470323905.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[41883,41884,41885],"class_list":["post-2346935","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-ev-owners","tag-hurricane-preparedness","tag-vehicle-safety"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/417e2aed0f0d4e54869e7f70e9208632-scaled-e1727470323905.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2346935","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2346935"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2346935\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2346936"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2346935"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2346935"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2346935"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}