Electric vehicle submerged in salt water catches fire in Siesta Key

SIESTA KEY, Fla – The Pinellas County government posted a video Saturday showing an electric car bursting into flames in Siesta Key.

According to the post, electric vehicles caught in salt water can catch fire. Hurricane Helene caused catastrophic flooding in the Bay Area, and some electric cars that came into contact with the floodwaters began producing sparks.

Scooters, bicycles, e-bikes, and electric vehicles all use lithium-ion batteries, and if these batteries are damaged by flooding, there is a high risk of fire.

“Water and the ion batteries don’t mix and they literally explode,” Tampa Mayor Jane Castor said during a news conference Friday.

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