At the least half dozen homes trapped flames inside Florida immediately following floodwaters of Hurricane Helene immersed electric vehicles (EV) battery packs and you may ignited them, state head economic officer and you can fire marshal Jimmy Patronis said to the October. dos.
Ron DeSantis inside Madeira Seashore, Fl, Patronis asserted that county officials have observed 16 fireplaces up to now away from EVs on Tampa Bay area alone, together with Pinellas State.
The newest governor got warned EV people for the Fl to obtain their vehicles to raised surface before Helene’s coming, due to the fact contact with saltwater can be small-circuit new electric batteries, ultimately causing a disastrous strings impulse labeled as thermal runaway where heat energy sources are put-out on the electric battery to cause a flame.
Throughout the a news conference having Gov
One of the dangers one our company is extremely worried about is lithium-ion power technology-which is EVs, tennis carts, and you will scooters. The product dont combine well having saltwater, Patronis said.
The vehicles connect flames pursuing the short-circuit advances between numerous tissue about lithium electric battery, said Tom Barth of National Transport Security Board.
If for example the saltwater could probably bridge the gap between your positive and negative terminals out-of [the] power supply, it can result in an initial routine, Barth told you, who is captain of unique review part of one’s board’s Office from Road Coverage.
The fresh phenomenon try seemingly related to just saltwater, as thermal runaway wasn’t noticed in EVs regarding freshwater ton from inside the Ca.
