Storm surges from Hurricane Milton could turn electric vehicles and other products containing lithium-ion batteries into "ticking time bombs," Florida's fire marshal is warning. Residents and first responders are being cautioned about "an alarming fire hazard with lithium-ion batteries, EVs, as well as hybrid and fuel cell vehicles in preparation of Hurricane Milton," according to a Monday statement from Florida fire marshal Jimmy Patronis, who also serves as the state's chief financial officer. As of early Wednesday, Hurricane Milton was barreling across the Gulf of Mexico as what the National Hurricane Center is calling a "catastrophic" Category 5 storm, on track to make landfall along Florida's central west coast, including the Tampa area, late Wednesday or early Thursday.
The warning comes after prior incidents of floodwaters caused electric vehicles to burst into flames. Florida officials have confirmed 48 lithium-ion battery fires related to storm surge from Hurricane Helene , with 11 involving EVs. Beyond cars, other consumer products that can contain lithium-ion batteries include scooters, hoverboards, golf cars and toys.
Owners should relocate their EVs to higher ground where their vehicles will be at less risk of flooding, Patronis said. After the storm, EVs flooded by saltwater should be moved away from residences to safe locations, so "you can worry about fixing your home, instead of rebuilding it due to fire," Patronis stated . And firefighters in Palm Harbor, Fl.