A small number of electric vehicles in Florida burst into flame during flooding caused by Hurricane Ian, and the fires are raising awareness about a previously little-known safety issue for the millions of Americans who have bought or are thinking of buying an EV.
They are also generating political heat, with some Florida Republican lawmakers calling for more regulatory oversight for electric vehicles.
Florida’s State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis tweeted, “there’s a science experiment taking place in Florida with EVs and salty storm surge waters.”
But experts note all vehicles use concentrated power sources — whether gasoline, diesel or electricity — making them all vulnerable to ignition.
Statistics compiled by AutoInsuranceEZ found that for every 100,000 EVs there are about 25 fires, compared with 1,530 car fires in the same number of gas-powered vehicles. Gas-powered cars typically catch fire due to fuel leaks or crashes.
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