Electric Car Drivers Warned: Plan Hurricane Evacuation Routes Now

Posted: September 9, 2022 5:40 am

As hurricane season gets into full swing drivers of electric vehicles might want to bear in mind that they are more at risk of being stranded when evacuating from a hurricane than those who are at the wheel of a gas-powered vehicle.

Among the reasons: Electric vehicles have shorter driving ranges and need to be recharged at stations that have charging ports—and such ports might not be readily available along existing evacuation routes.

That is why escape routes should be planned bearing electric vehicles in mind, says Eleftheria Kontou, a civil and environmental engineering professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

She urges those emergency coordinators across the country who are preparing for the hurricane season to take into account the needs of people driving electric vehicles.

Review routes now

She suggests, too, that drivers of electric vehicles should review existing evacuation routes now and determine their charging options so they know what route to take should an evacuation take place.

If they find that they cannot reach safe places to shelter in a reasonable time in driving their electric vehicles, they should coordinate plans with their neighbors or use another vehicle that has a larger driving range.

Her suggestions come at a time when more and more electric vehicles are being sold, meaning that the number of such cars likely have grown in number in areas that might need to be evacuated.

Problems faced by electric-car drivers

Kontou lays out these problems for those driving electric vehicles.

• The present charging stations have been built to accommodate the day-to-day needs of drivers of electric cars and not necessarily for those who travel long distances.

• The vehicles might require a number of charging stations along a long evacuation route.

If such stations are not situated within a reasonable distance from the area being evacuated, drivers might not be able to reach them before the charges run out.

• At present the evacuation routes do not take into account the needs for frequent charging that electric vehicles require.

• Most electric vehicles require time-consuming charging times. It is not a matter of simply filling up a tank with fuel.

These long delays will stand in their way when drivers try to reach shelters in time.

• Because charging ports are infrequent, long lines are likely to form as drivers await their turn, leaving them vulnerable to danger as the hurricane approaches.

• Power outages will mean that charging stations will fail to work—as will gasoline fuel stations. Such outages will challenge the ability of drivers to escape from other hazards, such as flooding and wildfires, in addition to hurricanes.

Steps that should be taken

What steps does Kontou suggest the authorities should take to help solve the problems that face drivers of electric vehicles?

Emergency coordinators will need to reevaluate the capacity of existing evacuation routes when it comes to the peak demands that are posed by electric vehicles, she says.

Changes could involve outlining specific routes for the evacuation of electric vehicles so that they will have reliable access to charging stations. At the same time they should seek to cut down on possible crowding at charging stations and the overall evacuation times, she adds.

Model has been developed

The engineering department at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign has developed a model that provides different routes for the evacuation of electric, gasoline, and other vehicles that require alternative fuels, Kontou says. When an evacuation takes place these vehicles can follow different routes at the same time.

The research group that developed the model recommends that those who are coordinating the evacuation design routes:

• Reduce the time that is taken when following an evacuation route as much as possible;

• Eliminate confusion and forking;

• Apply contraflow traffic principles;

• Ensure that each road in the network is used at its maximum capacity; and

• Provide access that is reliable to refueling and charging facilities.

They also should develop information campaigns and maps to communicate their emergency escape plans to those drivers of cars that use alternative fuels.

Emergency planners should also collaborate with providers of charging stations to identify places that are vital for charging during an evacuation.

Recent Posts