Hybrids and EVs vs floods: Facts and myths

With one typhoon after another lashing our country, and the ineffectiveness of government flood control projects now becoming apparent, it's no surprise that many are now worried about floods once again. What's changed this time around is the prevalence of electrified vehicles like hybrids and EVs.

- IÑIGO S. ROCES

We don't need to be reminded of how water and electricity don't mix. So does the addition of electric power and batteries make this new generation of vehicles safer or more dangerous in extreme weather?

We go over some facts about hybrids and EVs and explain how owners should prepare during typhoon season.

Terminology

First of all, it's important to clarify some terms and these will be used quite frequently throughout this article. An electrified vehicle is a car the incorporates some sort of electricity into its propulsion. Electrified vehicle is the umbrella term used to describe vehicles like mild hybrids (MHEV), regular hybrids (HEV), plugin hybrids (PHEV), and fully electric vehicles (EV), as each of these incorporate some form of battery and electricity to move the car forward.

Hybrids, whether they are mild hybrids (MHEV, no EV mode when driving), regular hybrids (HEV), or plugin hybrids (PHEV), have both an ICE and EV powertrain. With two powertrains onboard, they can switch between either or even use both simultaneously.

Electrified vehicles will not electrocute you