In southern China, a dashboard camera has captured a rare and unsettling sight: two lightning bolts striking the same moving electric vehicle in quick succession. Internet users have questioned the safety of EV’s during thunderstorms.
The incident occurred in Beihai, Guangxi, where a BYD Song Plus EV — a model similar to the BYD Seal U sold in other markets — was travelling at low speed during a thunderstorm. The footage, widely circulated on Chinese social media, shows both bolts hitting the roof rails of the SUV, producing bright flashes and arcs of electricity.
The driver remained inside with the windows closed, a decision safety experts say likely prevented injury. In such situations, a car’s metal body acts as a Faraday cage, directing electrical current safely around the passenger compartment and into the ground. This principle applies regardless of whether the vehicle is petrol-powered or electric.
Concerns have been raised about whether electric vehicles attract lightning more than traditional petrol or diesel cars. According to experts, this is not the case. Lightning is drawn to the tallest or most conductive object nearby, influenced more by the vehicle’s height and surroundings than by its powertrain type. Both EVs and internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles feature metal bodies that provide a similar conductive path for lightning to pass harmlessly around occupants.
Questions also arise about whether EVs are more susceptible to damage from lightning or pose greater danger to occupants. Evidence suggests they are not. Both EVs and ICE vehicles are designed with metal bodies that act as Faraday cages, protecting passengers by channeling electrical currents safely to ground.
EV batteries and electrical components are housed in protective casings built to withstand electrical surges. In the BYD incident, the vehicle’s powertrain components — including battery, motor, and control units — showed no damage after two strikes. Furthermore, many EVs include electronic safety measures, such as automatic power outage protection systems, that deactivate high-voltage systems during extreme electrical events to prevent short circuits or fires.
While lightning strikes can cause superficial exterior damage like scorch marks, the likelihood of catastrophic failure or fire is low in both EVs and ICE vehicles. The primary risk to occupants comes from indirect effects, such as electric shock from touching metal parts during a strike or accidents caused by sudden driver reactions — risks present regardless of vehicle type.
Technical inspections carried out by the dealership after the strike found the car largely unscathed. Apart from two visible scorch marks on the roof where the bolts made contact, the main components of the vehicle’s electric drivetrain showed no signs of short-circuit damage. BYD’s public relations chief, Li Yunfei, confirmed via the social media platform Weibo that the car’s power outage protection system had automatically activated during the storm.
Such protection systems are not universally present in all vehicles, underscoring the role of electronic safeguards in modern EVs. The Song Plus EV is among BYD’s most popular models in China and one of its leading exports, according to industry data.
While the likelihood of a lightning strike is low — the Australian Bureau of Meteorology estimates the annual chance for any given location is less than one in a million — safety guidelines remain consistent. If caught in a thunderstorm while driving, authorities recommend staying inside the vehicle, keeping all windows closed, avoiding contact with metal surfaces, switching off radios and chargers, and stopping in a safe location away from tall trees or structures if possible. Should a strike occur, occupants should remain inside until it is safe and emergency services have been contacted.
