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...