Is it safe to drive & charge an electric car during rains?

New or potential electric car owners often have one question in their mind: ‘Is it safe to drive one when it’s raining?’

Multiple studies have narrowed down two main concerns. One regarding the safety of the passengers against chances of electrocution, and the other regarding water coming in contact with the car’s battery & other electrical components during rains.

Driving an electric car when it’s raining is perfectly safe. EV tech has seen major advances in safety measures, especially waterproofing. Modern electric cars have several safeguards against water ingress/intrusion. These safeguards are quantified by means of Ingress Protection (IP) rating. All electric cars have an ‘Ingress Protection’ or IP rating. These ratings are actually found on almost every electronic device, kitchen appliances and all kinds of electric vehicles. Let’s have a look at the IP Rating Scale below:

The above scale takes into account a rating of IP68. The first number in this rating (6) means the subject is ‘dust tight’. The second number (8) means it is protected against continuous immersion in water.

India’s most popular electric car, the Tata Nexon EV, comes with an IP67 rating. The first number (6) signifies the level of protection against dust, and the second number (7) signifies the Nexon EV’s protection against water. This IP rating denotes that the Nexon’s battery is safe from dust & water. The IP67 rating means the car can be submerged under 1 metre of water for up to 30 minutes, without any harm.

EV batteries are completely enclosed in secure, waterproof compartments. The electric cars available in the market are capable of safe, reliable performance during rainy seasons. The owners just need to take sensible precautions, for instance, when parked, covering the car with a waterproof cover to prevent any contact with rainwater.

Now let’s discuss certain practices about how to charge an electric car when it’s pouring.

Precautions to be taken during EV charging when its raining:

1)During monsoons, EV owners are advised to charge their electric cars in a dry & covered place.

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2)It is important to make sure the EV charger is dry before plugging it in.

3)While charging during rains, open the charging flap and insert the plug right away to limit any water getting into the charging port.

4)Hold the connector facing downwards until you are ready to plug it in. You don’t want water to get into the connector/plug.

Electric cars contain a number of electrical systems, all of which are well-insulated & waterproof, keeping water and even moisture at bay.

From batteries to motors to charging ports, everything is adequately sealed to prevent water from making its way in. You can even take your electric car through a carwash. Also, there is no impact on the performance whatsoever. In fact, electric cars offer some surprising advantages over conventional ICE cars in wet conditions. ICE cars have a vulnerability in heavy rain. If water goes into the engine cylinders through the air intake system, it may damage the engine components. This can even lead to a complete engine failure. Electric cars eliminate this risk entirely. Electric motors don’t require air intake, so there’s no path for water to enter the system.

Conclusion:

Going by the safety measures taken by automakers, it can be confidently said that our electric cars are as safe to drive in rain as fuel-powered vehicles. To protect electric car users against electrical hazards, the battery, charging equipment & other components are subject to multiple tests. Modern electric cars are as competent as conventional cars when it comes to protection from water damage.