A car can absolutely be struck by lightning during a thunderstorm, becoming a conduit for immense electrical energy. People are often advised to remain inside a hard-topped vehicle due to the car’s inherent design. This safety, however, does not mean the vehicle escapes the powerful electrical discharge unscathed.
Is a Car a Target for Lightning?
A car is a viable target for a lightning strike, especially when it is the tallest conductive object in an open area like a highway or parking lot. Lightning is a massive electrical discharge seeking the path of least resistance to the ground. Although a vehicle is not typically the preferred target over a tall tree or building, its presence makes it susceptible to becoming part of this circuit.
A common misconception is that the car’s rubber tires insulate it from the ground. Lightning bolts carry hundreds of millions of volts, a voltage so immense that the rubber cannot provide meaningful insulation. The air gap between the car’s metal frame and the ground is also insufficient to stop the current from arcing. The car acts more like a conductive bridge, facilitating the lightning’s journey to the earth.
How the Metal Shell Protects Occupants
A hard-topped, metal-bodied car offers protection because its structure manages the electrical current, not because of the tires. This relies on the principle of a conductive enclosure, where the charge travels along the exterior surface. The metal shell conducts the electricity around the passenger compartment, channeling the current to the ground.
This principle ensures that the electrical energy mostly bypasses the occupants inside the vehicle. For this safety mechanism to be fully effective, the vehicle must have a complete metal shell, excluding convertibles or cars with fiberglass bodies. Passengers maximize protection by avoiding contact with any metal surface inside the car, such as door handles or the steering wheel. Touching these items could allow the current to pass through the body as it seeks the shortest path to the frame and the ground.
Immediate Effects and Vehicle Damage
While occupants are generally protected, the vehicle absorbs the full impact of the electrical surge, leading to significant damage. The attachment point, often the antenna or a corner of the roof, can show immediate signs of damage like scorching, pitting, or melting of the metal. The intense heat of the strike, which can reach temperatures hotter than the sun’s surface, vaporizes the paint and surface material at the entry and exit points.
The car’s complex electrical system is highly vulnerable to the high-voltage surge. Electronic control units, sensors, and computer chips can be instantly fried, leading to the complete failure of the engine and onboard systems. Wiring harnesses may fuse or melt due to the current overload, and the strike can cause airbags to unexpectedly deploy. Furthermore, the current often exits the vehicle through the tires, especially those with steel belts, causing them to blow out as the internal air is rapidly heated.