Posted on 10/09/2022 2:06:29 PM PDT by Jacquerie
In the wake of Hurricane Ian, Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis is expressing new concern over electric vehicles. He penned a letter to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration sounding alarms on the dangerous mix of lithium batteries and storm surge.
Patronis, whose duties include state Fire Marshal, said the administration needs to assess fire risks associated with saltwater on electric vehicles. In the meantime, he said fire teams need more support to deal with an “inevitable” increase in fires associated with electric-powered automobiles.
He sent a copy of the letter to Rep. Frank Pallone, Chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
One major problem Patronis described was that even after lithium battery fires were extinguished, continued exposure to saltwater caused new ignitions.
Much of the existing federal guidance on disaster response involving submerged vehicles does not account for the risks associated with the exposure of lithium car batteries to saltwater, he said.
He wants the NHTSA to require electric car manufacturers of the dangers related to vehicles impacted by storm surge and said his office will distribute that information in Florida as soon as it becomes available.
Patronis said he wants answers to questions posed in his letter no later than Friday, Oct. 14.
“In my experience, Southwest Florida has a significant number of EVs in use, and if those EVs were left behind, exposed to storm surge, and sitting in garages, there is a risk of fires,” he said. “As the State Fire Marshal, I must ensure local fire teams have access to all the equipment needed for these operations, including Tender Strike Teams, Engine Strike Teams, PPE and thermal imagery. Your responses may be the difference between life and death.”
(Excerpt) Read more at floridapolitics.com ...
When I charge Li battery containing small devices in the house I always have that stuff sitting on at least a 12” x 12” cut and polished rock tile.
I know a guy who has two of those things. They look scary in the water, I’ve not asked for a ride. His local lake is prone to sudden thunderstorms.
I wish he’d cited some statistics on the EVs in the Florida flooding. I haven’t seen a picture of a flooded EV spouting flames or whatever he claims happens.
They seem to be a totally fun photo-op.
Don’t know if they are still useful as chick bait.
Obviously one needs a license or two. Likely open season all year [local climate determining].
Li and Na are nothing to fool with.
[As we were able to definitively prove in HS Chemistry Lab - way back in the day.]
Isn't that half the goal of every insurance company? The other half being to collect premiums with so many exceptions that goal #1 id easily met.
Yes, but only for the little people - those that live in "fly over country) and or course those insanely dangerou exestintial threats to "democracy" - the MAGA people
#20 Salt air and road salt from the winter rusts out your steel car so a battery pack would be a fire waiting to happen.
My CFO.. another great Florida Republican
No kidding...
EVs are powered by electricity created by the burning of mostly fossil fuels:
And pray to God it doesn't catch on fire. And if it does, the EV is not parked in your garage.
Imagine waking up at 3:30AM and discovering your house is on fire caused by your EV parked in your attached garage spontaneously combusting. Might cause some interesting challenges for the insurance company.
Good question.
Yeah. I saw a sink explode in chemistry lab when someone dumped so Li in the dry sink. Another student came by and turned the water on. Luckily he wasn’t burned. He did get thrown backwards.
How about those lithium batteries for home solar units? Hurricane surge just got worse. Lefties are nuts.
Partial Edumactation by experience is a Good ThingTM.
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