The reliability of electric vehicles has been a massive issue that automakers have yet to overcome. This lack of dependability was put on full display when a Tesla Model S “spontaneously caught fire” on a highway in Rancho Cordova, California.
Firefighters were called to the scene to witness the car completely ablaze, leading them to use 6,000 gallons of water to quench the flames on the Tesla which was showing no signs of trouble beforehand.
Metro Fire of Sacramento was quick to the scene with a crew who battled the flame and eventually extinguished the battery.
The vehicle battery compartment spontaneously caught fire while it was traveling freeway speeds on EB Hwy 50. The fire was extinguished with approx 6,000 gallons of water, as the battery cells continued to combust. Thankfully no injuries were reported. pic.twitter.com/PRmlWzQdXS
— Metro Fire of Sacramento (@metrofirepio) January 29, 2023
“The vehicle battery compartment spontaneously caught fire while it was traveling freeway speeds on EB Hwy 50. The fire was extinguished with approx 6,000 gallons of water, as the battery cells continued to combust. Thankfully no injuries were reported.”
Even more alarming than the fire itself is that there was “nothing unusual prior” to indicate that the car was having issues, and allowing the occupants time to avoid the disaster.
In the images of the above Tweet, it is clear the car is beyond totaled, and that the blaze burned hot for a long time. This is not a one time occurrence either. In 2022 many other Tesla batteries caught fire, creating a deadly situation for the owner and passengers.
Watched a @Tesla catch on fire this morning. As soon as it started smoking the electrical system locked trapping the guy inside. Luckily construction workers broke the window so he could escape. Neat feature pic.twitter.com/9OHoP9mWbe
— Mjarchie (@Mjarchie1) May 20, 2022
This fire was potentially even more deadly, as the electronics in the car were fried and trapped the occupant inside, according to his statement shared by CTV News.
“The doors wouldn’t open. The windows wouldn’t go down.”
“Of course, there’s always going to be panic in a moment when you feel trapped. I kicked through the window, climbed out and called 911 right away.”
This issue has been present in other brands too. Last year, a Jaguar Electric EV made a loud “POP” before it burst into flames, according to a recount from the car’s owner shared by The American Tribune.
“On June 16, I plugged the car in before going to bed. In the morning of June 17, I woke up and unplugged the car. Later that morning, I set out to run some errands. I drove about 12 miles that morning before returning back home and parking the car back in the garage, leaving the garage door open.
As I was doing things at home, I heard pops coming from the garage. I decided to go see where the sounds were coming from, and upon walking into the garage, I faced a thick wall of smoke. My thought immediately was, ‘When there is smoke there is fire,’ and I need to get the car out of the house garage.”
As long as fire remains a cause for concern with EV’s, many in America will be unwilling to even consider purchasing one. When was the last time you heard about a well maintained gas vehicle spontaneously combusting? It just doesn’t happen hardly at all. So, aside from all of the other reliability issues with EV’s, namely they’re inability to work in the cold, this is another drawback to the new automobile trend.
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