Busting EV Monsoon Myths for a Safe Drive

Posted on: Jun 20, 2022 | | Written by:

Busting EV Monsoon Myths for a Safe Drive

Remember what you learnt about electricity and water in school? When they come together, it can be lethal. Pure water is a bad conductor of electricity, but the water we see around us has electrolytes, making it a good conductor of electricity. Hence, we are told, with good reason, to keep water and electric sources away from each other.

Which is why, given the rising popularity of electric vehicles, a natural question arises – how safe are electric vehicles in wet conditions or during the monsoons?

Car manufacturers know that their vehicles wouldn’t really sell much if their use was weather-dependent. Which is why, several safety mechanisms are in place to ensure that you can use your car worry-free, in all weather conditions. Still, you should keep a good insurance policy handy and active by paying your EV car insurance premiumon time.

1. Water ingress protection

Much like modern day flagship smartphones that come with a water and dust protection rating, cars too, come with an Ingress Protection (IP) rating. This rating is indicative of sealing effectiveness against any ingress or intrusion of unwantedsubstances such as water and dirt. The rating consists of the letters IP, followed by two digits.

The first digit represents protection against solid materials such as tools, fingers, dirt, and dust that might come into contact with the electrical circuitry, damaging it. The second digit is representative of protection against liquid substances, which includes ambient moisture, drips, sprays, etc. The higher the number, the greater is the protection.

EV batteries come with an IP67 rating, which is adequately high, given that anything higher than this is used for specialised bodies such as submarines. An IP67 rating can protect the car and its electrical circuitry if it were submerged in a metre of water, for up to 30 minutes. Considering that most waterlogged areas don’t have standing water of about a metre, certainly not enough for your car to spend more than 30 minutes in it, you will be insulated.

Moreover, modern EVs come with multiple layers of protection which are designed to cut-off at the first sign of ingress in order to protect itself. The battery pack can also be electrically isolated from the rest of the vehicle.

2. Lightning protection

There’s a common misconception that an electric vehicle is more susceptible to a lightning strike. It could not be further from the truth. However, given that that the drivetrain of an EV is electrical, they are more vulnerable to the electromagnetic disturbances caused by indirect lightning strikes. Having said that, modern EVs come with electrical surge protection mechanisms. In fact, you would be safer inside the car during a lightning storm, as the car will conduct any lightning strike safely into the ground, protecting you inside.

3. Charging in the rain

Much like the car itself, the charging apparatus of the car is designed for all-weather use, allowing you to charge your vehicle even when it’s raining. They undergo rigorous testing, and are required to meet strict safety norms, to prevent any possible accident in real-world conditions.

4. Range during rains

While turning on the air conditioner will certainly affect the range, other electrical components don’t have much bearing on the battery discharge. These can include internal and external lights, wipers, and defoggers. Even a high-end stereo system with a large peak output will not drain the battery much. Moreover, range is an approximate estimation, accountingfor certain specific conditions. Keep a buffer of 20% of your range, to know when you’ll need to recharge. As the adoption of electric vehicles increases, these myths are bound to get dispelled gradually. Safety standards will improve further, even though they’re adequate currently. To further protect yourself financially, take anelectric vehicle car insurance policy that covers any potential damage to your vehicle. Pay your car insurance premium easily online and get covered in minutes. So, take your EV out for a drive without any worries this monsoon, and enjoy the sound of the rains, without the distraction of the engine noise.

Disclaimer: The above information is for illustrative purpose only. For more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales.

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