If you happen to drive an EV and reside on Florida’s Gulf Coast, you will have two selections earlier than the highly effective Hurricane Milton arrives – right here’s what to know.
If you happen to drive an EV and resolve to remain on the Gulf Coast: Don’t park your EV anyplace the place there will probably be standing water. This ought to be frequent sense, however there have been loads of vehicles in water throughout Hurricane Helene. This equally applies to fuel vehicles too. Vehicles don’t like water, and batteries significantly don’t like saltwater.
If you happen to’re not already in a non-flood zone with a storage, get your EV to a excessive and dry space, ideally underneath shelter, properly prematurely of Hurricane Milton’s arrival on Wednesday. Each Pinellas and Hillsborough counties within the Tampa Bay space, the place Milton is projected to make a direct hit, are opening up garages to the general public totally free.
In case your EV does turn into submerged, don’t attempt to drive it. Contact your insurance coverage firm, and comply with your OEM’s steering on what to do. Right here’s Tesla’s submerged automobile steering.
If you happen to resolve to remain in your house since you’re not in a flood zone and have acceptable security shutters, Powerwalls, and so forth, keep in mind that your automobile is a protected supply of energy. I learn a number of accounts of Rivian house owners powering fridges and different home equipment throughout Hurricane Helene on the Rivian Fb group final week.
If you happen to drive an EV and resolve to evacuate the Gulf Coast: It’s no extra dangerous to evacuate in an EV than it’s to take action in a fuel automobile. In case your Uncle Bob asks the way you’ll cost your automobile if the facility goes out, gently remind him that fuel stations don’t work when the facility goes out both.
Cost your automobile to no less than 80%, plan your route, and test that the DC quick chargers and/or Degree 2 chargers in your route are on-line. There will probably be site visitors. Heck, there’s unhealthy site visitors on I-75 now. Fuel vehicles will burn fuel as they idle in site visitors. You received’t burn cost in your EV. However when you lastly clear site visitors, don’t pace, as a result of then you’ll burn vary unnecessarily. (Plus, the very last thing you want is a dashing ticket.)
Take your transportable charger and its Degree 1 and Degree 2 attachments with you, as a result of the extra choices to cost you will have, the higher. A Degree 1 EV charger will connect with any normal 120v AC outlet so you’ll be able to plug in anyplace – one thing fuel automobile drivers can’t do. If you happen to intend to remain at a lodge, see if you’ll find one which has a Degree 2 charger onsite.
Learn extra: Fuel stations inform Florida to cease dawdling with $198M in federal EV charger funding
