Electric cars have suddenly become more visible on Indian roads and that is a brilliant change in the direction of saving the environment. Moreover, EV infrastructure has also developed quite a bit in the country. Owing to this, a lot of people are considering buying electric vehicles. However, there still is a lot of skepticism around EVs and the biggest concern people have is whether it is safe to drive and charge an EV while it's pouring outside. And why not, in a country like India where certain states and cities see heavy rainfalls for almost six months in a year, the concern is more real than not. So let's answer some commonly asked questions with respect to rains and EVs.
We all know that water conducts electricity. So it's a valid concern that you might be electrocuted. However, fortunately, electric car chargers are weatherproof and are specifically designed to protect both the car and its passengers from electrical shock. Electric vehicle chargers are also rigorously tested and have to meet certain standard safety norms. Furthermore, waterproofing electrical connectors, as well as any other electric equipment, is mandatory. So, the short answer is yes, you can charge your EV in the rains without getting electrocuted.
Most people are concerned about what would happen if lightning strikes on their EV. To be honest, you probably might be safer in a car if lightning were to actually strike the vehicle. The rationale behind this is that when a bolt of lightning hits a car, it hits the exterior which is a metallic surface. Now, because of the electromagnetic effects on the skin of the vehicle, the current would actually pass down safely into the ground. This is known as the Farraday Effect. An NHTSA report also compared exactly the same kind of situation with an ICE and electric car and it reported that electric vehicles are by no means at a higher propensity to their ICE siblings. In fact, they are comparatively lesser prone to any damages in case lightning strikes.
Modern-day electric vehicle batteries have an IP67 rating. This is quite adequate as anything past IP67 is used generally for specialized equipment such as submarines, etc. An IP67 rating allows you to submerge the vehicle in water up to a meter in height for up to 30 mins without any leakage. Thus, in a situation where the car needs to encounter waterlogging or a flood-like situation which is usually about 300mm wading depth one does not have to worry about damage to the terminals, connectors and high voltage architecture of the vehicle. Additionally, driving an electric car into a pool of water doesn't cause any malfunction, and doesn't conduct electricity into the water around the vehicle. All systems, inside the battery pack, have multiple layers of protective cutoffs which activate at the first sign of water ingress. The main battery pack also has the ability to isolate itself electrically from the rest of the car.
So, it's extremely clear that driving an EV in the rains is not a matter of concern as it's absolutely waterproof and safe. Let us know in the comments below if you have any more questions and we will try and answer that for you soon. Also, go ahead and get that EV without second guessing.
