Hurricane Idalia and subsequent floods have created an electric vehicle (EV) fire risk in Florida as batteries exposed to saltwater become susceptible to combustion, based on statements from one of the fire departments in the state.
“WARNING. If you own a hybrid or electric vehicle that has come into contact with saltwater due to recent flooding within the last 24 hours, it is crucial to relocate the vehicle from your garage without delay. Saltwater exposure can trigger combustion in lithium-ion batteries. If possible, transfer your vehicle to higher ground,” Palm Harbor Fire Rescue (PHFR), Florida, said in an Aug. 31 Facebook post.
Few Are Trading In Dangerous E-Bikes for Safer Ones, Despite Fire Risk
After a spate of deadly lithium battery fires in New York City, an e-bike trade-in program began to offer brand-new e-bikes certified to industry safety standards at discounted prices to delivery workers who brought in their old ones.
But the pilot program — which initially asked $1,900 for the new e-bikes — has yielded just three trade-ins since July: two e-bikes and an e-scooter.
The meager result illustrates just how difficult it will be to get uncertified e-bikes away from the public and put safer ones into the hands of their heaviest users, the city’s 60,000-plus delivery workers.
