California EV owners, beware: El Nio flooding brings risk of serious battery fires
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Set us as preferred Damage from a week’s worth of high surf and El Niño-related storms brought many warnings from officials.Beaches were closed.
Homes were evacuated and red-tagged.But one alert was targeted to a specific audience: owners of electric vehicles that were submerged by the flooding.“If you notice smoke, hissing, popping or unusual heat, move away immediately and call 911,” the Laguna Beach Fire Department said.
“Do not attempt to move the vehicle or extinguish the fire yourself.” It also warned that if the car had been partially submerged it shouldn’t be driven or charged, even if it appears to operate normally.California is the epicenter of America’s EV market, representing about 19% of all new car sales, according to a UC Davis study.Now, California faces an exceptionally wet El Niño winter.
Most forecasts say it could be the biggest on record, bringing rain and the potential for more flooding.Experts say electric vehicles are susceptible to starting a fire when their batteries are inundated with salt water.During the weekend storms brought by Tropical Storm Rachel, floodwaters swept into Newport Beach’s Balboa Peninsula and exposed cars parked and driving through the area to standing water, which may have corroded batteries and created hidden hazards.
Experts expect more coastal flooding as El Niño peaks in California this winter.It’s not that EVs are inherently dangerous.But water affects them differently from cars with internal combustion engines.
Gas-powered cars have their own problems from flooding, such as electrical system malfunctions, rust and mold.The flooding challenges of EVs have already hit Florida, New Jersey and other flood-prone states.Fires fueled by unstable, damaged lithium batteries spread quickly and are difficult to put out — and they can occur days or even weeks after saltwater exposure.
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