As people look toward cutting down on a car’s maintenance and running costs, electric vehicles are increasingly becoming the norm in the automotive industry. While EVs are far safer than conventional vehicles, many EV critics have voiced concerns over the safety of electric cars.
One of their gravest concerns is whether an electric car can kill you; let’s find out!
An electric car can kill you if you get electrocuted by one of its components, especially its battery. However, it is improbable that this will happen unless you try to repair the car yourself and expose the batteries and wires that Tesla has carefully encased in a protective covering.
In contrast to conventional vehicles with an internal combustion engine, EVs use lithium-ion batteries to power themselves. You need to be quite careful around these batteries as mishandling them can give you an electric shock or cause a fire.
In this guide, we’ll look at how electric cars can be dangerous and how you can avoid getting yourself injured by them.
Electrocution Risks Of An Electric Car
Despite electric cars being incredibly safe, the chance of electrocution still exists. But how exactly can an EV electrocute someone?
Role Of Lithium-Ion Batteries
The first thing to remember is that an EV has a large battery pack consisting of numerous lithium-ion cells, which power your EV’s engine. Lithium-ion batteries operate at a very high voltage (between 200 to 800 volts), which can be dangerous if you come into contact with them.
How You Might Get Electrocuted
The risk of electrocution arises when you’re exposed to high-voltage cables beneath the EV. You can be in grave danger if these cables get loose and short-circuit. Trying to repair the vehicle and exposing yourself to these cables while the car is running also increases the chances of you getting electrocuted.
Therefore, it’s best to leave the repair work in the hands of a professional. However, EV manufacturers highlight these high-voltage cables by painting them in bright orange to warn you to proceed with extreme caution with those wires.
In an accident, the chances of electrocution rise as they can often cause the cables to fall apart and cause a short circuit in the battery cells that can cause a fire to break out. Moreover, if those broken wires come into contact with a wet surface, they can cause a major electric shock.
Safety Tips For Dealing With EV Batteries
As we’ve already established that lithium-ion batteries can be harmful, it’s essential to learn how to deal with them safely. If you see anything strange or incorrectly linked, you should only attempt to repair it if you have prior experience.
Touching the wrong object by accident might be fatal. To be completely safe, it’s always a good idea to seek the help of a professional who knows their way around lithium-ion batteries.
Avoid High-voltage Cable Lines
High-voltage cable lines in most EVs are often painted bright orange to indicate you need to avoid them. If you observe them while repairing your EV, you should continue with care or consult a professional.
Maintain Distance With An EV Involved In An Accident
Second, if you’ve been involved in an accident with your EV, you will need to get away from it as quickly as possible so that the vehicle can be thoroughly examined by a professional. Even a slight mishap might result in battery pack damage, which may easily result in a fire.
If cables fall apart after an accident, there might be live wires dangling below your vehicle. While they are unlikely to electrocute you if they come in contact with water, the consequences can be dire.
Ensure All Electrical Wiring Is Working Properly
Finally, ensure that your electrical wiring is in excellent working order. Similarly, if you discover any damage to your EV’s battery cables, you should get them changed by a professional so that they don’t endanger you in the future.
Charge Your Vehicle Appropriately
Charging your electric car also plays a vital role in your EV’s battery safety. We can almost always rely on chargers handed over to us by EV manufacturers due to legislation and advancements in safety regulations. However, certain risks can persist if you use a cheap charging cable or hire an unprofessional worker to install a charging station.
When misused, the standard charging cables can be dangerous. Hiring an unqualified individual to install a charging station at your home may also pose risks due to using cheap or improper materials. Saving a little money by cutting shortcuts is usually not a bright idea.
Avoid Exposure To High Temperatures
Although EVs have appropriate cooling and heating options and a battery management system, exposing them to high temperatures may result in your battery degrading prematurely. Therefore, you should avoid storing your EV in extremely hot temperatures.
Read Your EV’s Manual
Because the maintenance needs for each electric car differ from one another, it’s essential to stick to the maintenance recommendations in your EV’s handbook. Check to see what special maintenance instructions your EV manufacturer has offered for storing the vehicle for extended periods.
Check the documentation to see if any battery-draining functionality may be disabled.
FAQs
What Will Happen If Water Gets In My EV’s Battery?
Battery pack sealants are water-resistant, but if you drive an EV through a flood, there’s a chance that water may get through them. In that case, the safety systems inside the EV are activated, and the electrical supply to high-voltage parts is cut off to prevent a short circuit.
What Does The Thermal Management System Of An EV Do?
The thermal system keeps the vital components of an EV, such as the battery, functioning at a sustainable temperature. This system dissipates the heat the battery produces while operating or being charged.
How Long Do Electric Cars Last?
EVs tend to last around 15 years, but their life depends on several factors, such as how you take care of the battery and whether you service the EV regularly.
Conclusion
While EV manufacturers install numerous safety features in electric cars, there can exist a circumstance where these safety measures fail. Not only can EV accidents result in fire outbreaks, but the chances of you getting electrocuted also increase drastically.
However, you can avoid getting injured if you follow certain safety precautions that we’ve listed above.
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