Answers To: Are EVs Better Or Worse In Emergencies?

Based on what I’ve seen on social media lately and even in The Washington Post, some people are claiming EVs would be a mess in emergencies. Is that true? Let’s take a look at the facts.

Post columnist Charles Lane relayed the Twitter story of a Tesla driver who was reportedly worried about running out of power in a massive, snow-induced I-95 traffic jam.

The editorial’s premise was if the interstate had been filled with EVs the mess would have been even worse.

That ties into one of the questions I’m often asked by gas motorists: What happens if I run out of power?

While it’s a valid question, what a lot of people fail to realize is that in emergencies EVs have some distinct advantages.

First, most EV owners charge at home so many leave the house each day with a full charge, while gasoline motorists might not refuel until they get down to a quarter tank or less.

Second, there are no fumes to worry about when dozens or even hundreds of EVs are stuck in close quarters. Imagine the carbon monoxide that was being spewed in that traffic jam as all those bumper-to-bumper motorists were running their engines overnight to keep warm. Or, imagine the same situation in a tunnel.

Would an EV run out of power? If the traffic jam lasts long enough – of course – just as internal combustion engine (ICE) cars will eventually run out of gas.

But how many traffic jams are going to last more than a day? Dan Kanninen, who drives a Tesla Model 3, was among those trapped in the Virginia traffic jam. He posted his experience on zeta2030.org, writing in part:

I am especially grateful that I was driving my EV when I got stuck on I-95. I watched countless vehicles slide across the road, but my EV expertly navigated the ice. While fellow drivers burned gasoline running their engines to stay warm, my EV intelligently directed power solely to temperature regulation—I did not have to inefficiently burn fuel to power my entire engine in order to keep us safe. As other drivers then fretted about their dwindling gas reserves, my EV intuitively monitored my power supply, giving me the peace of mind that other drivers did not have.

Dan Kanninen

Based on a variety of sources I looked up on EV heater consumption – ranging from Car and Driver to chevybolt.com and others – it’s safe to assume most EVs on sale today would have at least 20 hours of heat – and many would have significantly more than that. For example, YouTuber Bjørn Nyland did some testing in snowy Norway and found, based on his Tesla Model 3 testing, that an EV like that with a full battery can keep you warm for three or four days.

Here in Florida, one of the worries is evacuating as a hurricane approaches.

This is an example where EV owners that charge at home have a clear advantage over their gasoline neighbors. While motorists sometimes face long gas lines ahead of hurricanes, EV drivers who can charge at home plug-in like they always do.

Some might argue EVs will be stuck if there’s ever a power outage. But that argument is also a fallacy since most gas pumps aren’t going to work during a power outage either, meaning both types of vehicles wouldn’t be able to refuel as they typically would. However, EV owners that have rooftop solar can just keep charging, assuming there’s sun and they have a sufficient number of solar panels.

For EV motorists that do run out of charge, they’re likely to do the same thing as most gas motorists do, which is call for roadside assistance.

“So for electric vehicles we handle it two ways – if it breaks down in a city where we have a mobile EV charger we’ll deploy that charger to go help the vehicle. If we do not, we’ll deploy a tow truck and have the vehicle towed so it can get charged at either their home or a charging station – whatever the member chooses,” said American Automobile Association (AAA) Manager of Repair Programs Jim Sennett.

AAA is using three different roadside remote charging systems. One is from SparkCharge, which is a battery-powered portable charger. Another is from Blink, which is among the charging station brands in the U.S.

A new trend is also emerging that over time will give EV motorists another advantage. More EVs are starting to come with the option to transfer power from one EV to another. For example, the 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning EV can refuel other EVs and even power a house during an outage – depending on the option package.

The 2024 Chevy Silverado will have a similar feature as does the 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5. Instead of calling a tow truck, imagine calling your spouse or a neighbor for a charge – sort of like asking someone to bring you a gallon of gas.

Jim says Triple-A has placed orders for the new EV pickups. “The Chevy Silverado [EV] is going to be available in Q4 of this year and they’re hoping the Lightnings will be here somewhere between Q2 and Q3.”

Jim says the bottom line is when it comes to roadside assistance needs, EVs are likely to have the same issues as gasoline cars.

“They’re all the same as any other ICE (internal combustion engine) calls. Most of them are for flat tires, collisions, or mechanical breakdowns that can’t be driven – like a ball joint or a locked brake caliper or anything. Nothing that stands out more than a normal ICE engine problem.”

Just about all EVs also come standard with a charging cable that can plug into any regular electrical outlet, like those found outside of buildings and homes that can be used as a last resort if a charging station isn’t available – although it might take hours of slow charging to get enough juice to make it home or to the next charging station when using a regular household outlet.

The real lesson here isn’t that EVs are more – or less – safe in an emergency, but rather, be prepared. Don’t put yourself in a position where your tank – or your battery – runs out.