Question

why is a car a good place to hide from lightning? [try to explain in terms of electric fields]

Answer 1

Because In strong electric fields, rubber tires actually become more conductive than insulating. You're safe in a car because the lightning will travel around the surface of the vehicle and then go to ground. This occurs because the vehicle acts like a Faraday cage. In which inside a conducting shell electric field will be zero. So, there will be no effect due to lightning inside the car.

taying inside the car is better than standing under a tree or in the open, but not better than being inside a home or business with a good roof.

While a car on rubber tires is somewhat isolated from ground, it certainly isn't perfect, and if there is something metal dangling under the car, that could create that direct ground. If you must remain in the car, stay away from things like metal door handles, shift levers, or anything that would be attached to the frame or body. Then even when the car is hit by lightning, you would be fairly well insulated from the lightning. While the lightning could jump to you, if there is no solid ground, the lightning is more likely to take whatever is the easiest path from ground up. (You do know that lightning travels up, not down?)

A fully-enclosed, all-metal vehicle is very safe, but don't touch interior metallic areas on a vehicle. The lightning charge goes around the outside of the vehicle, creating a Faraday effect and protecting the occupants inside.