Since 2013 there have been at least 14 instances of Tesla cars catching fire, the majority occurring after a crash. On April 21, late Sunday evening Shanghai local time, users of Weibo, the Chinese social media app equivalent to Twitter, widely shared a video showing a Tesla Model S catching fire spontaneously. We look forward to hearing what Tesla's investigation results are.
Burning Tesla's Are Becoming More Commonplace
Tesla's lithium-ion batteries have been known to catch fire on their own or when damaged in an accident. The video, apparently taken from a surveillance camera, shows a Tesla Model S, parked in Shanghai along a line of cars, which starts emitting smoke from underneath and burst into flames seconds later. It doesn’t look like the vehicle was charging at the time and the fire appears to have started around the battery pack. A video of the aftermath showed a sequence of three cars wholly destroyed.
Regardless of the type of powertrain, after a severe crash there’s a higher chance of fire for any car. When a vehicle self-combusted without being involved in an accident, it’s crucial to determine the cause.
No statistical evidence shows EVs catch on fire at a higher rate than gasoline vehicles. This may be a big problem for Tesla if the battery burst into flame on its own. Tesla needs to investigate and find a reason and a solution. We look forward to hearing what Tesla's investigation results are.
Further Reading
Read our full review on the 2017 Tesla Model S