Safely Recharge Your Electric Vehicle

Courtesy of safeelectricity.org

While it’s normally a bad idea to stand on a wet surface and plug something in, electric vehicles are built to do just that. With electric vehicles growing in popularity, people are curious about charging in inclement weather such as rain or snow. For example, it might be pouring rain while it’s charging. Perhaps owners have to brush snow off the charger before unplugging. Both conditions are suitable for the factory charger or a quality after-market charger. Electric vehicles are powered by an electric motor instead of an internal combustion engine. The battery that powers the motor is charged with a dedicated plug-in cord that connects it to a charging station or regular wall outlet. When using a quality charging device, generally no safety-related issues exist if the plug is designed to be insulated and waterproofed and undergoes testing by the Society of Automotive Engineers. The exception would involve extreme weather conditions such as flooding. When it’s wet outside the only area of concern is not where the plug meets the car, but where the charging cord plugs into an outlet or an extension cord. You want to make sure that all cords are appropriate for the use, are in good working order, and that connections aren’t wet. Safe Electricity recommends that electric vehicle owners always follow manufacturer instructions and check charging equipment before using it. With 10,380 electric vehicles on the road, Minnesota ranks 22nd in the U.S., according to the U.S. Department of Energy.