EV in a hurricane evacuation

[Tampamike]

It’s always a good idea to avoid I-4!! Did you hit any love bugs on 60?

Not that I noticed. I’ve seen a few around Tampa pre-hurricane. I’m thinking they’re all hundreds of miles away now.?

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[Mach1E]

In that worst case forecast Mach1E, say you live in Miami, just travel to Orlando and get a hotel to be safe. 230 mile trip to get a much much weaker tropical system. When hurricanes travel over land, the land always wins.

Sorry, but nope.

Again, the ENTIRE STATE evacuated.

Orlando got hurricane force winds and was without power for over a week.

There were ZERO hotels available in Orlando during Irma. The entire state population doesn’t fit in Orlando…….

Your solutions aren’t solutions. Gotta send millions of people into Georgia to safely evacuate.

And even if everyone went to Orlando in their BEVs……. Again, no electricity for a week. How would they get home?

This is a real and serious infrastructure nightmare.

I don’t think we will ever have enough DC chargers in a scenario like Irma. Just not enough life boats on the Titanic.

Hopefully Florida will continue to have the insight that “zero electric cars sold by 2035,” will put people in danger.

 

[dbsb3233]

Glad all our Florida forum members appear to be OK. And it is really interesting reading your first hand accounts of using your MME during a natural disaster.

I think it is clear that if you can charge at home, and at your destination, and you don't need to rely on a public charger, a BEV is more useful than an ICE vehicle during a natural disaster. Lots of "ifs" there, which is why I think an ICE backup is a good idea if you have one.

Florida MME owners: 1
Florida hurricanes: 0

Not sure I would say "more" useful. Pros and cons to both. Just like you want to keep your MME at 100% with a potential natural disaster coming, you want to fill the gas up to full in the ICE too (for even more range, usually). And if things get really dicey (widespread power outages), gas does offer a bit more flexibility in a pinch (gas can, syphoning, gas station that has a generator, etc).

If I really wanted the best vehicle for a natural disaster, I'd choose an F-150 hybrid with Powerboost. Big gas tank and all that onboard power generation!

 

[mjs020294]

Anyone that is in the extended cone of an hurricane should keep their cars topped off (ICE or BEV), plus having 4x5g gas cans full is prudent IMO. I filled both our ICE cars and made sure my twelve gas cans were full 4-5 days before the hurricane passed by us. When we are threatened by an onshore hurricane I pre-book well away form the coast, and cancel if the cone shifts.

Sensible people that are prepared will normally be fine, the idiots and ill-prepared leave themselves open to bad things happening.

 

[RockwallRick]

In hindsight I now wish I had waited to get gas for my Truck. Our State gas tax suspension starts today! Should be 25 Cents a gallon cheaper.

 

[mkhuffman]

Not sure I would say "more" useful. Pros and cons to both. Just like you want to keep your MME at 100% with a potential natural disaster coming, you want to fill the gas up to full in the ICE too (for even more range, usually). And if things get really dicey (widespread power outages), gas does offer a bit more flexibility in a pinch (gas can, syphoning, gas station that has a generator, etc).

If I really wanted the best vehicle for a natural disaster, I'd choose an F-150 hybrid with Powerboost. Big gas tank and all that onboard power generation!

Definitely more useful because you don't have to scavenge for gas. But as I said, there are a lot of qualifiers such as power at home and power at destination.

For example, I can make it to my mom's house on a 100% charge if I take the shortest and slowest route. If we have to evacuate, we would go there and it is very unlikely a hurricane that hits Hampton Roads will also hit Roanoke. Roanoke is surrounded by mountains anyway. There might be gas shortages in Roanoke but I will be able to charge my car at my mom's house.

I will do exactly as you said and fill up my wife's ICE car and fully charge my MME, and we might even take both if we evacuate.

 

[Garbone]

Going forward my BEVs will be set up to run my fridge and a fan. Even if we loose power for a few days I will always be able to charge at work or the family can go inland and stay with someone that has power.

I have never had a vehicle that could be practically set up to run appliances until I got this BEV, good stuff and no need for gas cans or the drone of a Genset in the driveway.

 

[dbsb3233]

Definitely more useful because you don't have to scavenge for gas. But as I said, there are a lot of qualifiers such as power at home and power at destination.

For example, I can make it to my mom's house on a 100% charge if I take the shortest and slowest route. If we have to evacuate, we would go there and it is very unlikely a hurricane that hits Hampton Roads will also hit Roanoke. Roanoke is surrounded by mountains anyway. There might be gas shortages in Roanoke but I will be able to charge my car at my mom's house.

I will do exactly as you said and fill up my wife's ICE car and fully charge my MME, and we might even take both if we evacuate.

But if you make sure your tank is full before the disaster, you don't have to scavenge for gas either, and have probably 1.5x to 2x more range.

Perhaps I misunderstood your timing for "scavenge" though. Did you mean in the days BEFORE the disaster? Yes, that could be a little tougher as people are out stocking up. But in the days AFTER the disaster, with power out for days and the area looking dystopian, pretty sure it would be easier to find 100 miles worth of gas than 100 miles worth of electricity. Especially in a pinch since the only electricity might be 120V and take 2 days just to add 100 miles.

Either way though, most people should be ok, as long as they're not on an island, or have to go 150+ miles to escape.

 

[clhardy5]

Sorry, but nope.

Again, the ENTIRE STATE evacuated.

Orlando got hurricane force winds and was without power for over a week.

There were ZERO hotels available in Orlando during Irma. The entire state population doesn’t fit in Orlando…….

Your solutions aren’t solutions. Gotta send millions of people into Georgia to safely evacuate.

And even if everyone went to Orlando in their BEVs……. Again, no electricity for a week. How would they get home?

This is a real and serious infrastructure nightmare.

I don’t think we will ever have enough DC chargers in a scenario like Irma. Just not enough life boats on the Titanic.

Hopefully Florida will continue to have the insight that “zero electric cars sold by 2035,” will put people in danger.

Are you saying no electricity in Orlando for a week? Or at home.....maybe a solution would be to use the 110 charger and a good friends outlet . Yes...It will take awhile to charge, but who wants to go home when there is no electricity?

 

[Mach1E]

Are you saying no electricity in Orlando for a week? Or at home.....maybe a solution would be to use the 110 charger and a good friends outlet . Yes...It will take awhile to charge, but who wants to go home when there is no electricity?

In Orlando. After Irma my in laws who live in downtown Orlando had no electricity for over a week.

I was the last person on my street with power from Irma (power line was down in my driveway). My neighbors? No power for 11 days.

Irma is definitely a worst case scenario. But it’s realistic and could happen again.

The point is that millions of people were displaced and millions more had no electricity. Everyone “going to Orlando” is not the solution if we are all driving electric cars.

And if you’re evacuated to Orlando……. Good luck finding a stranger with electricity willing to let you plug in and good luck getting to them when your car is out of power.

Sebring (middle of the state) was even worse off. Took 3 weeks to get power restored. We drove a caravan of supplies to them after Irma. Because they’re lower population and more remote, they were kinda last on the list to get power. Someone has to be last, but it still sucked.

 

[mkhuffman]

Not sure I would say "more" useful. Pros and cons to both. Just like you want to keep your MME at 100% with a potential natural disaster coming, you want to fill the gas up to full in the ICE too (for even more range, usually). And if things get really dicey (widespread power outages), gas does offer a bit more flexibility in a pinch (gas can, syphoning, gas station that has a generator, etc).

If I really wanted the best vehicle for a natural disaster, I'd choose an F-150 hybrid with Powerboost. Big gas tank and all that onboard power generation!

We agree.

 

[Deleted member 3569]

https://highways.dot.gov/newsroom/u...uerto-rico-now-have-alternative-fuel-corridor

The National Highway Administration under NEVI - National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure formula program, funding is provided to develop EV alternative fuel corridors and claims it got approved AFC for EV's (plans NOT actual infrastructure) in all 50 states ...these AFCs are to provide among other things EV chargers along evacuation routes in case of calamities ... wishful thinking ???

 

[clhardy5]

In Orlando. After Irma my in laws who live in downtown Orlando had no electricity for over a week.

I was the last person on my street with power from Irma (power line was down in my driveway). My neighbors? No power for 11 days.

Irma is definitely a worst case scenario. But it’s realistic and could happen again.

The point is that millions of people were displaced and millions more had no electricity. Everyone “going to Orlando” is not the solution if we are all driving electric cars.

And if you’re evacuated to Orlando……. Good luck finding a stranger with electricity willing to let you plug in and good luck getting to them when your car is out of power.

Sebring (middle of the state) was even worse off. Took 3 weeks to get power restored. We drove a caravan of supplies to them after Irma. Because they’re lower population and more remote, they were kinda last on the list to get power. Someone has to be last, but it still sucked.

Sounds like Armageddan!!! Definitely wouldn't want to be anywhere near that ....in an EV or an ICE! So were the gas pumps working....even without electricity? Or do all stations have back up generators.... I thought they needed electricity as well? Seems like a lose....lose situation.

 

[mccdeuce]

Lines for fuel pumps over a mile AFTER the storm


it’s all up to interpretation on EVs in a disaster. But for me and my family - I would rather have my MME

 

[mjs020294]

it’s all up to interpretation on EVs in a disaster. But for me and my family - I would rather have my MME

I think the folks outside Florida are completely missing the point. NW Florida up past Gainesville is a relative dead zone for charging. To get clear of a hurricane you often need to evacuate 200 miles past that area. An ICE would do it on one tank, and EV would be left stranded right in the path of a hurricane.

I owned a home in Tampa and one in NE Florida and had to make the commute up I75 and accross to NE Florida. The charging options are very scarce and they can't cope with increased demand. Plus on the return trip many areas could be without without power.

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