EVs: Stranded Assets or Life-Savers During Natural Disasters?

By Edward A. Sanchez — Oct. 8, 2024

I really need to address something, folks. Just when it seemed like general knowledge of EVs was improving, and people were getting over the FUD narrative, it comes roaring back with a vengeance at a time when it’s least helpful: during a natural disaster.

I Googled the term “EV battery power Hurricane Helene.” Not just the first few results, but literally the first five or so pages of results were about EVs catching on fire because of the flooding. To be clear, I’m not denying this happened, nor do I deny that EV batteries sometimes do catch fire in compromised situations. Am I saying these incidents shouldn’t be reported on? No. But the first five pages?

What I was trying to find was a report of EV owners using their cars as a power supply after Helene knocked out much of the grid in the greater Asheville, NC, area and other areas affected by Helene. I saw some posts on Reddit about people using their Hyundais, Kias, F-150 Lightnings, and R1Ts to provide power to their homes for a few days.

But having a degree in journalism, and knowing that not-always savory reputation and tactics of the trade over the years, I’m quite familiar with the term “If it bleeds, it leads.” Simply put, informative, feel-good stories about EV owners using their cars to power essentials at their house in the aftermath of the storm won’t get the number of clicks that “EVs catch fire during Helene flooding.”

Thankfully, I haven’t had to live through a natural disaster of that magnitude, and haven’t had to be totally reliant on my car for power. But here are a few points to ponder.

EV Fires are Statistically Much Less Common than Internal-Combustion Vehicle Fires
This article from The Guardian documents the statistical likelihood of fires in electric vehicles versus combustion vehicles. Multiple reports and studies confirm EVs are much less likely to catch fire than combustion vehicles. But…

It is true in the case of a thermal runaway event, that batteries can burn much longer and can be harder to contain than gasoline-fueled fires. That is just the nature of the beast of many lithium-ion battery chemistries. Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) batteries are much less susceptible to thermal runaway, and are quickly becoming the chemistry of choice for mainstream, mass-production EVs. Some other recent cases in South Korea are having many auto manufacturers taking a second look at built-in fire or thermal runaway containment measures in their EVs and battery packs. Long story short: I’m not denying EV fires happen, but I am saying it doesn’t happen to the extent that many think they do.

An ICE Vehicle or Generator is Not Necessarily Better in a Natural Disaster
I’m not going to guilt or try to bully anyone into an “all-or-nothing” approach to disaster preparedness. You should use all available tools and resources available to you in such a situation. But you shouldn’t solely rely on any single one.

Many people buy gas generators to power their homes in the aftermath of natural disasters. But as anyone who has been through an extended power outage, the cumulative noise and smell from you and all your neighbors running them can be tiring after a while (and not just from the CO buildup). Also, there have been numerous cases of people using the generators too close to the house, or with a window or door open, or in some cases, even running it indoors, where the exhaust fumes caused sickness or even death.

In addition, before or after major storms or weather events, there is often a “run” on gas stations, with people panic-filling their tanks and gas cans, resulting in fuel outages. In the aftermath of storms, even if gas stations do have fuel in their holding tanks, it is either inaccessible due to a power outage, or water-contaminated due to flooding.

Personally, and this may surprise you being that you’re reading an EV enthusiast blog, would be to have a modest stockpile of full propane tanks at any given time. Propane can be stored almost indefinitely, doesn’t go “stale,” and is useful for generators, cooking, heat, and a myriad of other uses during and after a disaster.

Getting back to the beginning of this post, vehicles with a V2L or V2H function, such as the Hyundai/Kia E-GMP vehicles, or the Ford F-150 Lightning, have been reported to provide power for up to five or six days after a natural disaster, if used sparingly. In many cases, at least a few DC fast charging stations were still operable in the area, allowing vehicles to recharge. This may not always be the case, but something worth familiarizing yourself with beforehand if you live in an area susceptible to weather events and natural disasters.

Battery Power Stations: An Emerging Solution
From a purely objective standpoint, battery power stations are not quite up to cost-and-capability-parity for an equivalent ICE generator. The ones large enough to power major appliances such as full-size refrigerators, electric ranges and ovens, washers and dryers, etc. are often thousands of dollars. An equivalent priced gasoline or dual-fuel generator typically has a wattage output three times as much. But, you’re still faced with a potential fuel shortage in an extended power outage scenario. If you have solar panels, and you use your power judiciously, you could hypothetically have a more sustainable power supply over a longer period of time with a battery power station.

I personally have a small battery power station with solar panels to recharge it. It is only powerful enough to charge my phone, laptop, a few floor lamps, and my four-cup coffee maker.
For cooking, I have a propane grill, and a butane camp stove. Candidly, liquid or gaseous hydrocarbon fuels are still more practical for heating and cooking in an emergency scenario. Resistive heat cooking or heating is the least-efficient use of electrical power.

Take a Holistic, Practical Approach in Emergency Preparedness
To clarify, by “holistic” I mean overall and well-rounded, not a unicorns and rainbows idealism approach. Have enough supplies on hand during seasons when your area is susceptible to power outages, storms, etc. to sustain you for several days, if not a week. Fresh water supplies, canned or dried food, a means of heating food and water, and power for communications, lighting, and small appliances. Don’t rely solely on one approach (all-gas, all-electric) to get through it. Use what’s available, and what’s best suited to the task. As noted, for cooking and heating, propane is hard to beat. Butane camp stoves are lightweight, portable, and effective for pan-cooking food and heating/boiling water. There are some companies that have long shelf-life potable water (20+ years). Have a means of water purification/filtration. If you do have a battery power station, I would highly encourage purchasing the add-on solar panels in case the grid is down for an extended period.

If you have the financial means, a home solar system with battery storage can help get you through extended power outages with minimal disruption to your home life.

Not all EVs feature a V2L or V2H system yet, however, there is legislation pending in California that may mandate the feature. Although my libertarian philosophy and worldview usually bristles at heavy-handed regulation, I’m not opposed to this one. If you have a vehicle with V2L or V2H capability, be aware of the capabilities, as well as the limitations, and how you could use them in an emergency situation.

EVs and electrical power can be very handy and practical in an emergency scenario, but don’t limit your options when your survival is at stake.

(Image courtesy Rivian)