As Florida officers and residents proceed to clear up and assess the damage attributable to Hurricane Ian, they’re discovering the storm has turned some electrical autos into incendiary units on roads, parking tons and even on the backs of tow vehicles.
Electric autos that had been flooded and broken by the storm have been catching fireplace with out warning in incidents all through the toughest hit areas in the state, in accordance to State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis, who advised ABC News his staff has counted a minimum of 9 such incidents. In some instances, the EVs would burst into flames, keep on fireplace, then reignite hours later.
“Tow truck drivers said they have to be extra careful while transporting flood-damaged electric vehicles.”
ABC News
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has warned that EVs can ignite weeks after contact with saltwater.
As storms improve in ferocity, and the sale of EVs will increase worldwide, it is a phenomenon we’re possible to see rather more of says Eric Fredrickson of Call2Recycle, a non-profit which specializes in transporting lithium-ion batteries to recycling amenities.
“Part of what we’re dealing with right now is that this is the first major storm that we’ve had in an area where we have a high penetration of electric vehicles. So we’re seeing these fires in these incidents more than we have with any of the other storms,” he stated.
It’s additionally a problem for firefighters who’ve to use between 8,000 to 12,000 gallons of water to put out the fires, greater than 10 occasions as a lot as a gasoline engine-based car, in accordance to James Hammond, the assistant chief of operations at North Collier Fire Control & Rescue District.
“It’s just a constant flow trying to cool them down and stop the battery,” Hammond advised ABC News.
Hammond stated his groups would usually spend an hour placing out a conventional gas-powered car, however have spent 5 – 6 hours dousing electrical autos.
Saltwater flooding is the principle issue behind these fires, in accordance to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The flooding creates a sequence response in the engine and the batteries that made the elements extra possible to catch on fireplace, the company stated.
Officials in Florida stated they’ve handled a string of electrical car fires that had been attributable to Hurricane Ian flooding.
ABC News
The largest issues, in accordance to firefighters and security consultants, is that it’s nonetheless unknown what may spark the blaze in the primary place. Something so simple as turning the wheel following the saltwater damage may begin the fireplace in the car, consultants stated.
The challenge has gotten so dangerous that some tow truck drivers in Florida have refused to choose up flood-damaged EVs. Tim Baker, a tow truck driver, advised ABC News that one automotive he picked up caught on fireplace after he introduced it to his lot.
“They have the potential to catch fire pretty much any time,” he advised ABC News.
Officials in Florida stated they’ve handled a string of electrical car fires that had been attributable to Hurricane Ian flooding.
ABC News
NHTSA responded to a request by Florida state fireplace marshal Jimmy Patronis, who requested for steerage on the issue stating, “Lithium-ion vehicle battery fires have been observed both rapidly igniting and igniting several weeks after battery damage occurred. Timing of the fire initiation is specific to the battery design, chemistry and damage to the battery pack.”
The company recommends that flooded EVs be parked a minimum of 50 ft from any constructions, autos or combustibles.
“Always assume the battery and associated components are energized and fully charged,” the NHTSA stated in its letter to the state.
Officials in Florida stated they’ve handled a string of electrical car fires that had been attributable to Hurricane Ian flooding.
ABC News
Patronis additionally referred to as on automakers to work with the state to provide you with options and procedures when coping with the flooded EVs.
“As [EVs] grow in popularity, this is a potential threat that we’re going to have to deal with,” he advised ABC News. “I want to create solutions that work, other than just providing water to try to control the temperature of a battery that is burning out of control.”
One answer is schooling, in accordance to Fredrickson.
“We’re definitely going to see more cars flooded by saltwater if we don’t take steps to educate consumers about the consequences and the risks of an electric vehicle that gets flooded by saltwater,” he stated.
Fredrickson stated the best method of avoiding an EV automotive fireplace is transferring the automotive away from a possible flood space earlier than a significant storm, and if a automotive is submerged in salt water unplugging it from the wall earlier than energy is restored might be key to stopping it from bursting into flames.
That’s a priority going ahead, in accordance to Bobby Schneider of the Energy Security Agency, an organization contracted to assist mitigate EV automotive fires.
He stated there may nonetheless be a whole bunch of EVs saved in folks’s garages in Florida that would flip into potential fireplace hazards as soon as energy is returned to the grid.
Schneider stated that with the elevated use of EVs, 1000’s of fireplace departments and first responders throughout the nation want to be skilled in “the uniqueness and particulars of the hybrid and electric vehicles.”
ABC News’ Timmy Truong contributed to this report.
This report was featured in the Thursday, Oct. 20, 2022, episode of “Start Here,” ABC News’ each day news podcast.