As the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) continues to grow, ensuring the safe ownership of these automobiles has become increasingly important. Doing so safeguards your vehicle’s longevity and mitigates potential fire risks. This blog dives into the best practices for owning EVs, offering detailed guidance to promote safe and efficient energy usage.
Park in Protected Parking Garages
While you’re out and about, pulling into a public parking garage is unavoidable at times. But when you do, ensure proper protection around your EV and the charging station. Even though National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 88A, Standard Parking Structures requires sprinkler protection in all parking structures, there are very few national fire protection requirements for parking structures more than two tiers high.
In August 2024, the Wall Street Journal reported on a fire involving an EV in a South Korean parking garage that damaged hundreds of vehicles and led hundreds of citizens to evacuate the area. This has sparked a debate over whether EVs should be allowed in underground parking garages period.
Existing data points from the NFPA points to sprinklers successfully controlling fires and limiting them to the initial vehicle. The downside is that the optimal design density is still being determined. They say more research is needed to properly create systems to prevent vehicle-to-vehicle fires from spreading in parking garages. While parking at a public garage isn’t unsafe, you still need to be aware of any surrounding protection and the condition of the charging station itself.
Use Chargers Listed by a Qualified Testing Laboratory
As stated by Chase, the average cost of a new electric vehicle is $56,371. With that in mind, the last thing you want to do is fork out more money on an expensive charger. At first, it may seem like buying a less expensive charger is an easy way to cut costs, but cheaper is not always better.
While most major retailers require these chargers to undergo third-party safety tests and certifications, many online retailers, where less expensive chargers are found, do not. Buying a personal charger or using a public one that hasn’t been tested by a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) can pose serious risks for you and your vehicle. The Electrical Safety Foundation says using non-certified chargers can lead to shocks, fires, or battery damage.
When searching for a new EV charger, you may think you can choose the one with the most positive reviews. In an investigation by CHARGED, they found that “customers’ reviews on Amazon are woefully inadequate at filtering out products that are sporadically defective.” So, rather than looking for an EV charger with the most positive reviews, go for one with logos from Intertek or Underwriters Laboratories. Products with these logos pass extensive construction and performance tests to make sure they operate safely in every circumstance.
In the US, no federal regulations exist that require electrical products to be certified. That’s why it’s up to you to use your best judgment when making selections for your home.
Do Not Use Extension Cords With the Charger
Since you use extension cords for every other electrical appliance, you may wonder if you can use one for your EV. As logical as this may seem, the NFPA warns against this.
AG Electrical Technology explains extension cords are typically frowned upon because EV charging requires much more power than other household appliances. That said, most domestic extension cords aren’t made to transfer that much power. Possible consequences of attempting this include an increased risk of electrical shock and fire.
Fortunately, there are ways to achieve the same effect without using an extension cord. One of the ways is installing a bridge-style system to carry the charging cables across the pavement at a high level before dropping them down to the car. Another way to accomplish this is to tunnel your home charging through a pavement-mounted unit. With these alternatives available, you can rest easy knowing there are safer options.
Keep Water Out of the Charging Station
Most EV chargers are designed to be water resistant and withstand rainy conditions. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take the proper precautions because there’s a chance that bad things can happen.
According to EVC Installs, trapped moisture inside your EV charger can cause your charging port to malfunction and corrode the internal parts of your device. This can create an electric shock and fire if a fault occurs.
Luckily, there are things you can do to avoid any hazards with your EV charger. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recommends covering the EV charging station outlet when not in use to stop water from entering it. As an extra layer of protection, you can install a residual current device with the charging unit. This will shut off the power if a fault occurs and help prevent a fire.
Conclusion
Kelley Blue Book notes that EVs are less likely to cause or be involved in fires than hybrid or gas-powered vehicles. Data from AutoInsuranceEZ backs up this claim with data saying EVs are involved in about 25 fires per 100,000 sold. In comparison, hybrid- and gasoline-powered cars are involved in about 3,475 and 1,530 per every 100,000 sold, respectively. Regardless, holding your EV to the same standard as your other electrical appliances is still essential. Following these safe practices can help keep you and your EV equipment safe.
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