South Korean safety guidelines advise electric vehicle owners to avoid outdoor charging and contact with high-voltage parts during heavy rainfall [1], [2].
These warnings come as officials seek to prevent electric shocks and current leaks caused by water penetration in vehicle battery systems. Because battery casings can lose their waterproof integrity over time, extreme weather increases the risk of electrical failure [3].
Most electric vehicle batteries are installed across the wide lower section of the vehicle floor, according to YTN reporter Park Ki-wan [1]. This placement makes the battery susceptible to flooding even in relatively shallow water. Park said the bottom of the battery can make contact with water when only one-third [1] of the wheels are submerged.
Safety experts warn that owners must never touch orange-colored components under the hood or chassis. These orange parts signify high-voltage currents that can cause severe injury or death if touched, especially in wet conditions [1], [2].
In addition to avoiding orange components, drivers are urged to refrain from charging their vehicles outdoors when heavy rain is falling [2]. The combination of high-voltage charging and moisture increases the likelihood of short circuits, or leakage currents.
Authorities recommend that drivers move their vehicles to covered parking structures during the monsoon season to mitigate these risks [1]. If a vehicle becomes submerged, owners are told to avoid the vehicle entirely and contact professional recovery services to handle the high-voltage system safely [1], [3].
“The bottom of the battery can make contact with water when only one-third of the wheels are submerged.”
These guidelines highlight a critical vulnerability in EV architecture where the battery's location at the lowest point of the chassis creates a high risk during urban flooding. As EV fleets age, the degradation of waterproof seals means that safety protocols must evolve from factory-standard assumptions to active risk management for the end user.
