Summary
- Flooding from Hurricane Helene has submerged roads and vehicles across the Southeast, causing widespread damage.
- Electric vehicles do not necessarily catch fire more easily due to flooding, with only a small percentage actually doing so.
- If an electric vehicle does catch fire due to flooding, it is likely because collision or water intrusion has caused its battery to short circuit.
- Florida Governor Ron DeSantis warned electric vehicle owners to get to higher ground to avoid the risk of fire during hurricanes.
- If your vehicle is submerged in flood waters, do not attempt to restart it, leave the vehicle immediately, move to higher ground, and contact your insurance company before attempting to operate it again.
Article
Flooding from Hurricane Helene has caused significant damage across the Southeast, with roads and vehicles submerged. While concern has been raised about the potential for electric vehicles to catch fire due to flooding, experts suggest that it is not necessarily more likely. If an electric vehicle does catch fire in a flood, it is likely due to a collision or water intrusion causing the battery to short circuit. Hurricane Helene has caused over 100 deaths and power outages for 1.6 million customers, with Florida, the Carolinas, Georgia, Tennessee, and Virginia all impacted by heavy rain and flooding.
The catastrophic storm has led to numerous water rescues and widespread destruction, with houses floating away, bridges collapsing, and semi-trucks being tossed into mangled piles. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis warned electric vehicle owners to get to higher ground to avoid the risk of fire. In previous instances of flooding, only a small number of electric vehicles caught fire out of the thousands that were damaged. While gas-powered cars are more likely to catch fire due to fuel leaks or crashes, the rate of electric vehicle fires in flooding incidents remains low.
If a vehicle is submerged in floodwaters, experts advise against attempting to restart it, which could cause further damage. Instead, individuals should immediately leave the vehicle and move to higher ground or a safe location. Tesla recommends contacting your insurance company and not attempting to operate the vehicle until it has been inspected by an authorized shop. The vehicle should be towed or moved at least 50 feet from any combustible materials before further action is taken.
After a submerged vehicle has been recovered, it is important to assess the damage before attempting to use it. If the water did not rise above the doors, the vehicle may not have sustained significant damage. However, if the water did rise above the doors, restarting the vehicle could allow water into the engine, causing irreversible damage. AAA experts recommend caution and advise against restarting the vehicle until it has been thoroughly inspected. The severity of damage will vary depending on how high the water rose and the extent of water intrusion.
In summary, while flooding from Hurricane Helene has caused widespread damage and concern over the risk of electric vehicles catching fire, experts suggest that it is not necessarily more likely to occur. Individuals are advised to take precautions, such as not attempting to restart submerged vehicles and seeking proper inspection and assessment before further use. The impact of flooding on electric vehicles remains relatively low compared to gas-powered cars, highlighting the importance of safety measures and proper handling in such situations.
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