General News
22 January, 2024
Electric cars and flood a poor combination
THE REGION had five water rescues in a week as the first storms caused havoc from Christmas Day. SES crews responded to 39 requests for assistance including fallen trees, 18 properties flooded by water and five water rescues and most were in the...
THE REGION had five water rescues in a week as the first storms caused havoc from Christmas Day.
SES crews responded to 39 requests for assistance including fallen trees, 18 properties flooded by water and five water rescues and most were in the Wedderburn district.
But it was rescues from cars stranded on flooded roads that concerned the SES and police.
And among the vehicles caught were electric cars, some making it through water only to lose power metres later. Police have told the Loddon Herald the aerodynamic design of electric cars can suck water into the vehicle and make contact with lithium batteries.
Electric charging points in the Loddon Shire have had an increase in use over the past year. Statitistics from Loddon Shire show the Inglewood station had a total of 432 charges and Wedderburn 141.
Newbridge remains the least-used charging station, barely averaging one charge a week. There was a total of 65 sessions for the year.
Emergency services continue to repeat calls not to drive through floodwaters.