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Is an electric car OK in a lightning storm?

I heard that electric cars are dangerous to drive in lightning storms because of the heavy rain and danger to the battery. My friend even said the lightning can overload and explode your battery. Is an electrical car OK in a lightning storm?

avatar
Bellina Gaskey · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Great question! This is a common myth, but not true. Electric vehicles are perfectly fine in a lightning storm, and are designed to be weather-proof. You can drive your electric car in a lightning storm safely. You can even charge in the pouring rain and be totally safe.
Electric vehicle
manufacturers are always outdoing themselves with new safety standards, and heavy storms are one of the everyday threats they want to get around.
All the charging components and outside pieces of your vehicle are weatherproofed, so even if it’s raining cats and dogs, your car will be fine. Even if your car does get struck by lightning, all cars (electric and
gas
) are designed to act as a Faraday cage, a special protective screen that keeps electrostatic away from whoever’s inside it. So whether you’re in a regular car or an electric vehicle, you’re protected from lightning strikes.
Even if your car is struck by lightning, your battery will be safe. All the electronics and cabling of your vehicle are grounded and designed to be lightning proof. If the lightning does somehow manage to reach the internal circuit, a voltage monitor installed in the battery will recognize the extra volt and protect your battery from overcharging immediately.
Before anything happens with your vehicle, make sure you have affordable insurance.
Jerry
, the number one car insurance comparison app, will help you find the best rates. You can save an average of over $800 a year with dozens of providers like GEICO, Progressive, Allstate, Nationwide and more.
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