DRIVERS have been urged to take a crucial step to keep their cars safe ahead of expected heavy rainfall to prevent fires.
Electric vehicle owners have been warned of the risks rising floodwaters can pose to the lithium batteries their cars run on.
EV owners have been urged to move their cars to higher ground[/caption]
Hurricane Helene recently brought chaos to the southeastern US[/caption]
When saltwater from rising sea levels comes into contact with EV batteries, it can even trigger an explosion.
Now authorities have issued a warning to drivers in the wake of Hurricane Helene, which recently wrought devastation across much of the southeastern United States.
“What we saw with Hurricane Helene was an expansion of fires that were EV-related,” Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis told reporters.
“I’m sorry, lithium-ion batteries and saltwater do not mix.”
Most modern EVs use lithium-ion batteries thanks to their energy efficiency and relatively compact size.
However, lithium is highly reactive with water and, while perfectly safe in normal conditions, can have explosive consequences if exposed to it.
According to the National Highways and Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) the issue was first detected during Hurricane Sandy in 2012.
With Hurricane Milton set to bring further heavy rain to Florida, some officials are taking drastic steps to prevent EV-related fires.
The City of Tampa is opening up its city parking garages for free to all vehicles.
Spaces are available to all drivers who live in a low-lying area and want to protect their car.
Drivers have also been ordered to park on the third level or higher to ensure their vehicles are safe from flooding.
The garages will be open until at least 5 pm this Thursday.
In nearby St Petersburg, the city is offering free parking at a parking garage on a space-available basis for those who need to move their vehicles out of the storm.
The garage will allow free entry from 5 pm on Monday, October 7, and will remain open until it is full, or until 5 pm on Tuesday, October 8.
Vehicles will be able to park for free as long as they are retrieved by noon on Saturday, October 12, by which point it is hoped the storm will have passed.
Last month, authorities in Pinellas County shared a video of an EV catching fire after being flooded by saltwater.
Sharing the brief video on its official account on X, formerly known as Twitter, the county warned how quickly EVs can catch on fire.
“Electric Vehicles that have been flooded in saltwater can catch fire,” it wrote.
“If you evacuated and left an electric vehicle or golf cart in your garage or under a building and you are not able to get to it or move it, we want you to let us know.”
In total, more than 230 people are confirmed to have died in Hurricane Helene, which has become the deadliest mainland hurricane since Katrina in 2005.
