Storm Hilary Floods Could Spark Dozens of Tesla Fires Across California

Flash flooding in California caused by "potentially historic" rainfall from Tropical Storm Hilary could adversely affect the batteries of electric vehicles (EVs), after several caught fire after being exposed to flood waters in Florida in the wake of Hurricane Ian in 2022.

At least 12 EVs went up in smoke in the Sunshine State after their batteries were impacted by floodwaters, according to federal estimates. Fire officials laid the blame on seawater from a storm surge reacting with the batteries' components.

So far the flooding in California has predominantly been from heavy rains—but one expert warned that any flooding could be problematic for vehicles, including causing EVs to short-circuit.

California has far more EVs than any other state—in excess of 900,000 compared with just 168,000 in Florida, the state with the second highest number—and more than a third are estimated to be produced by Tesla, the market leader. Those pictured on fire in Florida following Hurricane Ian's devastation all appeared to be Tesla models.