So just imagine: it’s pouring rain outside, the thunder is rolling, lightning crackling in the sky, and you’re in your shiny electric car thinking – whoa. There’s a huge battery under my seat. Can this thing… you know… all of a sudden, combust in the middle of a storm?
That’s a reasonable question. EVs are seemingly everywhere now; buzzing along highways and parked in suburban driveways. And with an abundance of lithium-ion power underneath it all, the “what if” scenarios are endless. But here’s the real story: there’s no denying that no vehicle is ever entirely fire-proof, but EVs are not secret time bombs in bad weather. They are about as safe as our gas car peers, and in many cases, safer.
Why people have fear of batteries in storms
Lithium-ion batteries are incredible and terrifying. They have the potential to store a ton of energy in a small package, which helps to power a two-ton vehicle without gasoline. But that very density causes people to be afraid. Add to that headlines about phones or scooters overheating, and people want to know: is my car unstable in the rain?
In short, not exactly. The industry knows that this fear exists, so there are layers on layers of protection built into the EVs specifically to prevent storms from becoming catastrophes.
How do EVs avoid trouble in bad weather?
Waterproof battery cases
The battery pack isn’t naked; it’s encased inside a waterproof case (think armor). Rain, a car wash, or water from tires in a shallow puddle are not supposed to touch the actual battery. These casings are tested in pretty harsh conditions. Normal downpours are not going to be a problem.
Constant self-monitoring
One of the interesting aspects of EVs is the amount of self-monitoring that is occurring. All the time, there are sensors checking battery temperature, voltage, and overall health. If something doesn’t seem right, for example a spike in temperature, the vehicle can send you an alert or, in some cases, it can shut off certain sections of the battery to avoid a problem turning into a catastrophic failure. Storms produce opportunities for unusual conditions and situations, but the technology is set to respond quickly to changing conditions.
