Not Every EV Fire Is the Same
With modern electric vehicles being around for quite some time now, more people likely know that EV batteries catching fire can be a recipe for disaster. A phenomenon called thermal runaway involves uncontrolled self-heating in battery cells that can spread to neighboring cells, making a fire hard to put out. That is why this fiery incident involving at least four Teslas at a California dealership is interesting, as the damage does not appear to be as severe as it would be in a thermal-runaway event.
According to KRON4, it was initially unclear how the fire started. The report stated that at least two Teslas appeared to have suffered heavy damage, while others were partially damaged. Investigators have since described the early Monday morning fire as suspicious, although its exact cause remains under investigation.
A Fire That Can Fight Back
Thermal runaway can cause extensive damage, especially considering that battery fires can take up to 24 hours to extinguish. That’s because they can reignite after the flames are put out, an issue that prompted Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District crews to submerge a Model S’s battery compartment in a makeshift pit in 2022.
If this was a deliberate act, why would someone do such a thing? The news outlet said that Tesla has been a frequent target of vandalism. It could stem from backlash against CEO Elon Musk over his political actions with the Trump administration, which reportedly also hurt sales, especially around the last presidential election.
A resident reportedly described waking up around 4:00 a.m. to flames 10 to 12 feet high. The Central Marin Fire Department said its crews contained the fire “without a problem,” a statement that would be unlikely if it involved thermal runaway. While the fire was considered suspicious, no injuries were reported.
The Mystery Is Still Burning
As the investigation continues, one of the EVs appears to be a Tesla Model 3, possibly a Performance variant, given its red brake calipers. Another EV appears to be a Model S, which may be an unfortunate sight for enthusiasts given that production ended earlier this year alongside its SUV counterpart, the Model X. None of Tesla’s electric SUV models – the Model Y, Model X, and Cybertruck – appear to have been affected by the fire.
The report also said that the dealership was operating as usual on Labor Day and that Tesla had not responded to a request for comment.
