The rainy season begins with heavy rain and lightning! Are electric cars okay?

The rainy season begins with heavy rain and lightning! Are electric cars okay?

Everyone knows that electronic products that use electricity are vulnerable to moisture . Because of this, waterproof function is an important evaluation factor when purchasing electronic products . If so, can an electric car that uses the same electricity survive the rainy season with a lot of rain ? We will tell you about misunderstandings and truths about electric car safety , and how to manage batteries so that you can use electric cars more safely when it rains a lot .

Is there no risk of electric shock in electric cars on a rainy day?

Since electric vehicles use electricity and a high-voltage battery is installed under the vehicle, concerns about electric shock accidents due to flooding of the battery are constantly raised . However, all these worries are unfounded . High-voltage batteries used in electric vehicles are waterproof and sealed to prevent accidents such as electric shock and explosion . In addition, stability verification tests such as crash tests , combustion tests , flood tests , and water tightness tests ( blockingmoisture inflow tests ) are conducted before batteries are installed in vehicles .

What about a day when lightning strikes ? Even if an electric vehicle is struck by lightning, just like an internal combustion engine vehicle, the interior of the vehicle made of insulators is safe because the lightning is absorbed to the ground through the vehicle's surface and tires . There is no need to worry about electric shock due to damage to parts, as protective fuses are applied to electric vehicle parts, including batteries, to prevent overcurrent damage caused by lightning strikes .

How to protect the battery from moisture during charging where the vehicle's plug is exposed ? There is a drain hole in the charging port of an electric vehicle to discharge water to the outside . Therefore, even if a little water flows in, the water does not enter the vehicle interior . The charger and charging port adopt a structure that is sealed when tightened , and the system starts charging after confirming that the charger is fully engaged . In addition, the charger handle ( charger gun ) uses an insulating material that does not conduct electricity to protect the user's safety .

Although these safety devices are in place ,just in case, we recommend that you also follow safety rules and charge your vehicle. First and foremost, we recommend using an indoor charging station that can be protected from the rain rather than an outdoor charging station, most of which have no roof . Even when charging indoors, be careful not to drop the plug on a puddled floor.

If it is unavoidable to use an outdoor charging station , be careful not to place the charger connector facing the sky so that it is not exposed to rain and not to charge with wet hands . Wearing insulated gloves may also help . Also, it is not recommended to use the charger during lightning storms .

What should I do if my electric car gets flooded ? The best thing to do is not create a flooded situation as all vehicles do . You should refrain from driving in flooded areas or parking in flooded areas such as lowlands .

If flooding occurs, turn off the engine immediately and evacuate quickly from the inside of the vehicle . Even when servicing the drained vehicle thereafter, be careful not to come into direct contact with the connectors, the orange-marked high-voltage parts ( cables, etc. ) and the battery . Rather than repairing and disposing of the vehicle yourself, it is safer to contact the fire department , insurance company, or vehicle service center for professional assistance . Before the start of the rainy season, it would be a good idea to inspect the parts that may cause electric shock, such as damage to clothing, right ?

So far, we have looked at how to use electric vehicles safely in preparation for the rainy season . Basically, safety devices to prevent electric shock are placed throughout the vehicle to protect the occupants, so you can use the vehicle with confidence .

In summer, when the burden on vehicles increases , such as long-distance driving for summer vacation , vacation, etc., and increased use of air conditioners , please follow the above safety rules carefully and have a safe and enjoyable season .