If you’ve ever been around ocean going vessels you become aquatinted with the damage that the continuous salt spray causes. Even living close to the ocean is problematic. You better garage your car because the continuous salt environment will eat it up. Problems with combustible EVs are going to be worse.
**If you’ve ever been around ocean going vessels you become aquatinted with the damage that the continuous salt spray causes. Even living close to the ocean is problematic.**
In the late 80s the local midwest Cessna dealer sold a C182 to a customer in Coastal Mass; which was delivered by the salesman (who was also a flight instructor). The trade-in was a C172, that looked decent from the outside. When back home, and after the mechanics had opened all of the inspection panels to seal to deal, they had the salesman come and look at what he flew back. His face went pale when he saw the rotted wing ribs. His voice shaking, he said: “and I flew this thing in really rough turbulence over western Pennsylvania”.
Turns out the owner had opened a few select panels for the salesman that didn’t show any serious corrosion. After letting the seller know that some Mass aircraft inspector was probably going to be in trouble for signing in the logbooks that the plane as airworthy, a deal was made. The seller had to pay for having the wings being rebuilt.
Makes sense. I live a couple miles over a hill from Pacifica south of San Francisco. When visiting Pacifica I see lots of parked cars that have body rot from the salt water environment. Also, I recently watched a YouTube video of a guy that bought a battery pack from an EV, where the EV was damaged in an accident. He had hoped to swap the battery pack into his old EV, but found the battery pack external casing had rust and the internals got compromised. Total loss, as the pack wouldn't work in his car after he installed it.
So, EV's need to be inspected after years on the road, to make sure the battery packs are being compromised by salt water and resultant rust. It happens to the underbody and most folks wouldn't know about it.