Are hybrid-electric vehicles safe in an electrical storm?
October 2, 2009 in Alternative Fuel Vehicles
Did you know that you can save fuel and run your car on water
bubbaboeing asked:
Probably a dumb question… But because of the increase of electric in this type of car, does that mean you’d be more likely to attract lightning during a storm?
Did you know that you can save fuel and run your car on water
They are grounded by the rubber tires.
As safe as any other vehicle with rubber tires; the rubber tires will ground you and insulate you in case of lightning strike or electrocution in case of fallen power lines.
No problem.
They use electricity; they don’t attract it.
Lightning only decides in the last 100 meters where it is going to strike.
A car – any car – protects its inhabitants by guiding the electricity around the outside.
It is conceivable that electrical systems will be damaged though, and a hybrid vehicle has more extensive and expensive electrical systems to damage. But that only comes in to play if it’s hit. A hybrid’s chance of getting hit is no different from any other vehicle.
Use of electricity does not attract electricity, in this case lightning. The rubber tires also ground the vehicle..
Hybrid vehicles are safe in an electrical storm. Until one gets hit I guess we won’t really know how it will affect the controller, but the driver and passengers are safe. 300 volts doesn’t attract 200 million volts any more than 12 volts does.
As a side note I might even feel safer, because if there ever was a “boom” hybrids usually have a smaller gas tank.