Many people wonder whether charging an electric car during a thunderstorm is risky. Experts and energy providers believe that security is guaranteed under certain conditions. Nevertheless, protective measures and healthy caution make the difference.
How safe is an electric car really in a thunderstorm?
In a sense, cars act like Faraday cages. This means that in the event of a lightning strike, the electrical energy is conducted through the outer skin of the vehicle to earth, protecting the occupants and the battery. This also applies to electric cars, as the ADAC explains.
Public charging stations are legally obliged to offer protection against overvoltage and lightning strikes, as ADAC expert Matthias Vogt explains in a video from the automobile club. These mechanisms dissipate excess voltage in the event of nearby lightning, protecting the vehicle and station.
Private wallboxes also normally offer sufficient protection – provided they are installed professionally and have up-to-date surge protection devices, says Vogt.
What dangers remain despite protection?
A residual risk remains. For example, if a charging station is located in a large, free parking lot and therefore becomes the highest point. Lightning could strike there and potentially endanger metal parts, plugs or external contacts despite existing protective measures.
According to Vogt, older buildings or domestic installations sometimes lack modern lightning protection. In such cases, the wallbox is not fully protected. Damage to the power grid or electrical system can lead to expensive repairs.
When floods or high water occur, the risks increase significantly because contacts, cables and charging stations can be damaged. Insurance issues can be complicated in such cases, as the energy supplier EnBW explains.
What should you do to minimize risks?
If possible, charging should be avoided during heavy thunderstorms. If you still choose to charge during a thunderstorm, you should make sure that windows, doors and flaps are closed.
In your private environment, you should also ensure that the charging station or wallbox has functioning surge protection. Old or defective electrical installations should be checked and modernized if necessary.
At public charging stations, you should keep your distance carefully, especially if the station is located in an exposed location. Lightning often looks for the highest point, i.e. outside the protected structures.
Jennifer Vogel, editorial team at finanzen.net
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