Tesla Model S caught on video bursting into flames seemingly on its own when parked
Another Tesla vehicle has caught on fire without being involved in a crash. A Tesla Model S parked in a garage was filmed bursting into flames seemingly on its own.
There’s no statistical evidence that shows electric cars catch on fire at a higher rate than gasoline vehicles, but fires involving batteries can be more difficult to extinguish.
Furthermore, the causes of fire can be fairly different.
After a severe crash, there’s a higher chance of fire for any car regardless of the type of powertrain, but when a vehicle catches on fire seemingly on its own without being involved in a crash, it’s important to determine the cause.
Last week, we reported on a Tesla car catching on fire while being investigated for potentially being the cause of another fire in a garage.
Now we learn that earlier today in Shanghai, a Tesla Model S vehicle parked in an underground grarage has caught on fire.
The incident was caught on a security camera:
Good or bad, negative or positive I will post anything about Tesla or EVs in China. This happened today in Shanghai, China ?? 1st generation Tesla Model S caught Fire ? underground car park.#Tesla #TeslaChina #ModelS #Fire #China #Shanghai #特斯拉 #中国 $TSLA pic.twitter.com/HOwMcvulV1
— Jay in Shanghai (@ShanghaiJayin) April 21, 2019
It doesn’t look like the vehicle was charging at the time and the fire appears to have started around the battery pack, which is located at the bottom of the vehicle.
The fire completely destroyed the Tesla Model S and it also burnt the vehicles around it:
Good or bad, negative or positive I will post anything about Tesla or EVs in China. This happened today in Shanghai, China ?? 1st generation Tesla Model S caught Fire ? underground car park.#Tesla #TeslaChina #ModelS #Fire #China #Shanghai #特斯拉 #中国 $TSLA pic.twitter.com/HOwMcvulV1
— Jay in Shanghai (@ShanghaiJayin) April 21, 2019
We reached out to Tesla about the incident and we will update if they decide to comment.
Update: Tesla’s official Weibo account responded:
Aftermath hopefully we will hear from Tesla what truly happened. pic.twitter.com/DuFi0pW9dk
— Jay in Shanghai (@ShanghaiJayin) April 21, 2019
Electrek’s Take
As previously stated, I think it’s important to look into instances of electric vehicles catching on fire seemingly on their own – without a crash.
We are often quick to defend Tesla fires by saying that there’s no statistical evidence that shows electric cars catch on fire at a higher rate than gasoline vehicles, but if a car is catching fire on its own, it’s a completely different than catching fire after a crash.
In this case, it is quite worrying if the battery indeed burst into flame on its own like that.
However, I wouldn’t discard arson just yet because it almost like something exploded underneath the vehicle, but it that something could also just be the battery pack.
Either way, Tesla should investigate and try to get to the bottom of it.
Source: electrek.co
