The Expert Podcast

How does the U.S. Coast Guard have an impact or affect your knowledge of electric vehicles? It may not seem like the Coast Guard and electric vehicles have anything to do with each other, but they recently released a blog post on their official website discussing electric vehicle batteries. This post focuses on the shipping of these batteries on cargo boats and shipping containers, as well as their effects on the marine environment. The Coast Guard issued a safety alert stating that salt water intrusion causes damage to these batteries. More importantly, it can cause fires.

In fact, the Coast Guard's article includes a picture of a fire caused by salt water intruding into an electric vehicle battery. Their message is clear: vessels, ports, and shippers should be aware of this extreme risk and avoid loading EVs with damaged lithium-ion batteries onto commercial vehicles. The bottom line is that damaged lithium-ion batteries in EVs should not be transported on commercial vessels because it could lead to catastrophic fires. A fire on land is bad enough, but a fire 50 miles out at sea is much worse. Without a fire department nearby, a boat could easily sink, extinguishing the fire but also resulting in significant losses.

How is this relevant to electric vehicle ownership? If you live in a saltwater environment near the coast—where most people reside, such as in California, Oregon, Washington, Florida, Texas, New York, New Jersey, and Virginia—you could be at risk. These coastal states are among the most populated and have high rates of EV usage. Damage to your EV battery, whether from driving over a rock, hitting a speed bump, or other incidents, might not be visible. While you’d notice a chip on your windshield or a dent from a shopping cart, damage to your battery is often hidden because people rarely inspect under their vehicles.

This hidden damage could allow salt water to intrude, either from road spray or other exposure, potentially leading to fires. According to the Coast Guard, such intrusion presents an "extreme risk." Imagine your car parked in your garage: if salt water corrodes the leads or causes a short circuit, a fire could destroy not just your vehicle but also your home.

Even if you don't live near the ocean, winter road conditions across much of the country bring their own risks. States like Maine, New Hampshire, Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota use salt for snow and ice mitigation. This creates salt water on the roads, with a salinity content that might even exceed that of the ocean in some cases. Salt water intrusion in a battery remains a risk in these conditions.

The Coast Guard is warning commercial boats to be cautious, but this information is just as relevant for consumers and EV owners. It's something many people might not be aware of but is critical to consider. Regularly checking your EV battery for physical damage could help mitigate the risk. If you suspect any damage, have your battery inspected before parking in your garage and potentially putting your property at risk. While the Coast Guard has labeled this an extreme risk, taking simple precautions could save your car, home, and peace of mind.