Did no one consider that having large lithium batteries near salt water was a Bad Idea, and to construct them so that the water doesn’t get in?
As Hurricane Idalia caused flooding, some electric vehicles exposed to saltwater caught fire
Floridians battered by Hurricane Idalia this week may not have expected another threat — that floodwaters could cause their cars to suddenly burst into flames.
Yet that’s exactly what happened when two electric vehicles caught fire after being submerged in saltwater churned up by the storm. Firefighters in Palm Harbor, Florida, cited the incidents, both of which involved Teslas, in warning owners that their rechargeable car batteries could combust if exposed to saltwater.
“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,” the department said in a Facebook post. “Saltwater exposure can trigger combustion in lithium-ion batteries. If possible, transfer your vehicle to higher ground.”
The warning also applies to electric golf carts, scooters and bicycles, with lithium-ion batteries potentially sparking a fire when they get wet. More specifically, salt residue remains after the water dries out and can create “bridges” between the battery’s cells, potentially creating electrical connections that can spark a fire.
Consider that there are going to be lots and lots of these electric vehicles in areas near the oceans and salt waterways. Certainly, EVs and others are not relegated to coastal areas (map from this link)
but, quite a few are. People love using electric scooters and bikes at the beach, and plenty of golf carts near salt water.
In Florida, fire crews were towing one of the vehicles, a Tesla that had been submerged in Pinellas County, Florida, when it abruptly went up in flames, Palm Harbor Fire Rescue training chief Jason Haynes told CBS MoneyWatch. He said combustion can occur well after a car is exposed to saltwater and emphasized the importance of moving potentially damaged vehicles out of garages and away from nearby structures.
There are plenty of links to videos of the Tesla and others on fire. Seriously, water coming up to the wheel well can cause a fire. That’s not that high.
Pinellas Park: Tesla exposed to water from Hurricane Idalia was in the process with being towed when fire started. Vehicle dropped on 65th Way just south of Park Blvd. No injuries pic.twitter.com/BhcBUBbxuF
— IONTB.COM (@IONTB) August 31, 2023
Who’s looking forward to being forced into a vehicle that can catch on fire easily?
Read: News Outlets Are Shocked That EVs Can Catch On Fire Easily Around Salt Water »