Emergency crews responding to Hurricane Milton face diverse dangers, but a unique risk arises from flooded electric vehicles (EVs) that could spontaneously combust due to saltwater exposure.
The state of Florida has identified 50,000 EV and hybrid registrations within Hurricane Milton’s affected areas, and officials reported at least 64 lithium battery fires following Hurricane Helene.
Florida CFO Jimmy Patronis warned that flooded lithium-ion batteries are like "ticking time bombs," likely to worsen damage during recovery efforts post-hurricane as they can spontaneously combust.
Major insurers and car manufacturers have cautioned EV owners about moving vehicles to higher ground and seeking protected parking areas to mitigate the risk of battery fires.
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