Learn what happens to batteries exposed to floodwaters, how to identify signs of damage, and the best practices for decommissioning and repairing them.
What happens if electric car batteries are flooded?
Authorities say electric car batteries that have been submerged in salt water pose a fire risk, as the flooding can trigger a short circuit. If your vehicle has been flooded, be aware of the low but real chance that it can ignite, and never try to drive any vehicle after it has been flooded without first getting it checked out by a technician.
That's because the fire doesn't always occur immediately when the battery is flooded. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, about 36 EVs flooded by Hurricane Ian in Florida in 2022 caught fire, including several that were being towed after the storm on flatbed trailers.
How many electric vehicles were flooded after Hurricane Ian?
According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration research, also cited by the AP, after Hurricane Ian flooded 3,000-5,000 electric vehicles. Six hundred were declared total losses and 36 of those caught fire. That means roughly one-tenth of 1% of flooded EVs overall caught fire, but about 6% of those that were totaled did ignite.
Are electric vehicles in flood water a risk to emergency responders?
As global warming leads to more frequent flooding events, we can expect to see the total submersion of vehicles in flood waters more often over time. There are three risks to emergency responders with electric vehicles in flood water & we've broken this page into three parts:
Floods have pummeled the Southeast, especially North Carolina, destroying countless structures and leaving many vehicles at least partially underwater. Authorities say electric car batteries that have been submerged in salt water pose a fire risk, as the flooding can trigger a short circuit.
Did a flooded EV catch fire?
That means roughly one-tenth of 1% of flooded EVs overall caught fire, but about 6% of those that were totaled did ignite. Research at the Idaho National Laboratory —conducted as part of the NHTSA study—found various ways in which water from Hurricane Ian penetrated the battery packs of flooded cars: