There are many reasons why consumers aren’t choosing to buy EVs yet – some are valid, while others are a bit sensationalized. Safety is one of those reasons, and while EV battery fires have already been debunked in some ways, as well as flooding and apparent water-wading capacity, there’s one that we haven’t heard of before: lightning strikes.
Even while inside a car with a combustion engine, lightning strikes are terrifying. But what if the car in question carries a high-voltage battery under the floor? Thankfully (or not), an EV in China has been captured on camera while being struck by lightning – not once, but three times in a quick, almost cathartic incident. If you think that ended in tragedy, you’d be wrong. Evidently, the EV survived, as did the occupants inside. Just watch the video below.
Three Lightning Strikes Is A Charm
The EV that you see in the video is called the BYD Song Plus – a compact crossover made by one of the world’s biggest EV makers. It’s the most exported EV in China, which is also available as an extended-range EV and marketed in other countries as the Sealion 6. Design-wise, the Song Plus looks like a Porsche Cayenne up front but grafted with an Audi Q7 at the back. But you didn’t click this post to learn about vehicle designs. You want to know how an EV fared against Mother Nature.
According to Sycaijing, a Chinese publication, the Song Plus EV was brought to a dealership after the lightning strike. Surprisingly, the technicians found no short circuits or damage to the battery pack, electric control unit (ECU), and motor. In fact, there were just two issues found and both were cosmetic. The exact strike points on the roof showed some damage, and there were some burn marks on the luggage rack. Beyond that, everything else appears intact, including the interior.
Saved By Science
There were two reasons why extensive damage was mitigated in this particular EV. First, the Song Plus’ power-off protection system was reportedly activated immediately after the first strike, which helped safeguard the electrical systems of the vehicle. The other is that the car was said to have acted as a “Faraday cage” – not connected to the ambitious American EV maker. What this means is, during the strike, the car’s shells basically protected the occupants. According to experts in China, the strong electric current flowed along the car’s metal body to the ground without entering the cabin.
BYD’s brand and PR general manager in China also confirmed that the Song Plus EV and its occupants weren’t harmed, but urged the public to be careful during thunderstorms. Exactly how you’re supposed to do that short of finding a garage is unclear, but it’s also important to remain calm during such situations. Had the driver or passengers gotten out while the lightning strikes were happening, the incident would have ended very differently.
Source: Sycaijing via CarNewsChina