Why Electrical Automobiles Are Higher In Hurricanes

Final Up to date on: thirty first July 2025, 01:00 am

Hurricane season is technically right here. Florida hasn’t confronted the specter of any massive storms but, however they’re little doubt across the nook. It’s truly alleged to be an particularly lively hurricane season this 12 months. It’s scorching, and better warmth means better storms.

One unlucky factor many individuals fear about right here in Florida when they consider going electrical is whether or not EVs are protected or enough autos for when a hurricane hits.

Humorous sufficient, it was a Kia salesperson who not too long ago emphasised to me that EVs are literally higher than gasoline vehicles when hurricanes hit. We’ve written about this earlier than, nevertheless it’s value returning to the subject as we go into hurricane season. I’m tackling this in 4 elements: Charging Earlier than & After a Storm, Evacuation, Backup Energy, and Flooding.

Charging Earlier than & After a Storm

The largest distinction between an electrical automobile and a gas-powered automobile — from a consumer’s perspective, not less than — is how the car “fuels up.” As a result of there’s a threat of dropping electrical energy throughout a hurricane, many individuals take into consideration how that could possibly be bother for an EV. However there are some clear the reason why this shouldn’t be seen as a priority of EVs greater than it’s seen as a profit of EVs.

You’re going to need to cost up/gas up earlier than the storm hits. Should you’re driving a gasoline automobile, it’s worthwhile to go to a gasoline station to do that, and they’re infamous for insanely lengthy traces and working out of gas at these occasions. One of many worst issues about these storms can merely be making an attempt so as to add gas to your automobile within the hours and even days earlier than and after the storm. It’s a complete nightmare and headache. With an EV, although, who do you must battle off to get electrical energy? Nobody. You simply plug into the outlet in your storage and spend the remaining hours you saved by doing different issues to prep for the storm. The comfort good thing about EVs right here is off the charts.

What about after the storm, although? The entire space could possibly be with out electrical energy. Nicely, apart from the truth that you in all probability didn’t simply drive round for hours in the course of the storm (who would try this) and possibly don’t have to cost proper after the storm if you happen to charged proper earlier than it, it’s once more a lot simpler to cost up at house than to fend off zombies. Sure, some areas of the grid might be down and also you gained’t have the ability to cost, but when electrical energy is out, you can also’t use gasoline stations! They want electrical energy for the pumps and different operations. This is without doubt one of the issues the Kia salesperson highlighted.

Evacuation

One of many different massive issues that folks get involved about is ease of evacuation in an EV. To begin with, in case you are evacuating, it’s worthwhile to do it early. Should you wait till the final minute, you’re in for a nightmare on the freeway as you get caught in bumper-to-bumper visitors. Should you do find yourself in that state of affairs, although, not less than and EV makes use of subsequent to no vitality when sitting in a visitors jam. In a gasoline automobile, if you happen to don’t flip the automobile off, it should burn by tons of gasoline because it sits there working the engine.

Sure, you’ll be able to’t drive as far on a full battery as you’ll be able to on a full tank of gasoline. That is the place gasoline vehicles have a profit. Nevertheless, once more, you’re in all probability going to search out it a lot simpler to get a quick cost than replenish a gasoline tank whereas dozens of individuals wait in line for a pump. However, sure, if you happen to’re evacuating, plan and do it early with a view to keep away from insane congestion. In any other case, simply get able to experience out the storm.

Backup Energy

Now, one factor a gasoline automobile can’t do within the case of an influence outage is again up your own home. However some electrical autos can. That’s a bonus. Even when an EV can’t again up your own home, it might have vehicle-to-load capabilities, or you’ll be able to not less than get in it and switch it on in your storage with out the chance of carbon monoxide poisoning. You may get reduction from the warmth by sitting in an air conditioned automobile, or in some EVs (most notably Teslas), you’ll be able to even watch Disney+, Netflix, YouTube, and so on. within the automobile. Strive doing that in a gasoline automobile when you experience out a storm and an electrical energy outage.

Flooding

There may be one factor to be careful for, although. It’s greatest to be sure you park your automobile in an space that’s not possible to get flooded within the case of a hurricane or massive storm. Naturally, it’s not good for any automobile to get flooded. Nevertheless, within the case of an EV, prolonged flooding may do harm to the automobile’s battery. You don’t need that. Whether or not you discover a parking storage or just a location on greater floor that doesn’t face flood threat, that is one factor you would possibly need to take further time and warning to plan.

Closing Ideas on Electrical Automobiles vs. Fuel Automobiles in a Hurricane

Total, I feel it’s clear that electrical vehicles present a web profit on this area throughout a hurricane or massive tropical storm. They arrive with some dangers, however they arrive with a number of extra advantages, together with vital ones, for the interval earlier than, throughout, and after a giant storm. Having lived by a few enormous hurricanes, together with one final 12 months the place the attention of the storm went proper over us, I can say with confidence that’s the case. Sadly, nevertheless, many individuals (or in all probability most folks) will simply assume simplistically about a few issues and assume EVs are a much bigger threat and problem throughout a hurricane than gas-powered vehicles. These are the sorts of myths we now have to maintain busting by and busting aside.

Some other ideas on professionals or cons of proudly owning an electrical car when a hurricane hits?