Flood Fireplace Threat With EVs — At Least Some EV Packs Want Higher Water Sealing – CleanTechnica – TechnoNews

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Within the wake of the current hurricane that swept Florida after which went and wrecked decrease Appalachia, I got here throughout an fascinating social media submit from native authorities officers in Pinellas County, Florida. In it, we see the uncomfortable and harmful dying of a Tesla:

When salt water bought contained in the Tesla’s storage, it flooded the automobile. This didn’t initially trigger main issues, because the automobile’s low-slung battery pack is inside a particular compartment that’s meant to maintain the water out of it. However, given sufficient time, the water managed to seek out its technique to the battery cells. As a result of the water had salt in it, it was conductive. This shorted out the cells, inflicting a series response of awfulness and hearth.

When this occurred throughout Hurricane Ian, I didn’t suppose it was a reliable drawback. In any case, we had been assured by Tesla that the battery packs are waterproof. Elon Musk even mentioned that they might function a ship in a pinch. We’ve seen heaps and plenty of movies the place Teslas and different EVs ford deep water and get by way of when different autos stall out and flood. So, it didn’t make sense that water would get within the pack, and we thought that Florida officers had been mendacity.

However, it seems that they weren’t, and it seems that it retains taking place. Given sufficient time, a Tesla (and presumably another EV manufacturers) will embrace that “salt life” after which find yourself in salt dying.

What’s not clear is whether or not that is an industry-wide concern or one thing restricted to sure makes/fashions. All the trendy EV period media studies I may discover talked about a Tesla automobile, and generally e-bikes and electrical scooters. Going additional again, some early trendy EVs and PHEVs from Fisker and Toyota caught hearth after Hurricane Sandy in 2012. We have now to take into account that Teslas are the most well-liked EV in the US right this moment by far and that e-bikes and scooters are much more standard. So, it’s not clear whether or not these autos are extra susceptible than others or if they only come up in studies due to sheer numbers.

All EVs Ought to Be Waterproof

Right here’s the factor: that is unacceptable. Most significantly, lives are put in danger by battery packs that may’t spend a number of days flooded with out turning into a sizzling mess. Folks evacuating ought to have the ability to repair up their houses, not come again to a home that first flooded after which burnt. If sufficient individuals purchase EVs, this might grow to be frighteningly widespread after a hurricane. That is additionally horrible for the entire EV {industry}, because it helps cement the false concept that EVs are usually an even bigger hearth threat than combustion autos, which they don’t seem to be.

The answer is fairly easy. EV producers must have some satisfaction of their work and ensure each EV that leaves the manufacturing unit can deal with immersion for lengthy durations with out going up in flames. This may require some higher sealing the place the pack closes up. It’s positively going to require higher verify valves that preserve strain from increase contained in the pack because of temperature shifts, and so forth.

This may sound like a ridiculous demand to some, however we’ve got to take into account that there are lots of different merchandise on the market that may deal with water for lengthy durations. Telephones with an IP68 ranking are available available on the market, and there’s no purpose that automobile battery packs can’t be constructed to an analogous normal. I’d suggest that an EV ought to have the ability to stand up to immersion in as much as 10 ft of water for every week with out water intrusion into the pack.

Featured picture: a screenshot from the Pinellas County tweet above (truthful use).