U.S. NHTSA Investigating Tesla Model S for Danger of Electrical Fires

An expensive electric vehicle, the Tesla Model S, has come to the attention of the NHTSA for 3 battery-related fires in 6 weeks. One in mid-October in Mexico involved a Tesla Model S burning up after a high-speed crash. Another in early November in Tennessee occurred when a trailer hitch hit by a driver in the road pierced the battery of the Tesla Model S and led to a fire. Our Houston car fire injury lawyers note that yet another blaze occurred when a driver near Seattle hit a metal object in the road that pierced the shield and the battery. So now the U.S. NHTSA is investigating the Tesla for the danger of electrical fires.

The battery for the Tesla model S is mounted under the passenger compartment. A quarter inch-thick metal shield surrounds the battery. The car has a six-inch ground clearance, but that clearance becomes slightly lower at highway speeds. And if the battery is pierced or damaged, it can lead to arcing and sparking that might cause a fire. The Houston car fire injury lawyers at Denena Points, PC mention that apparently the vehicle warns drivers when the battery is pierced and the car catches fire. Both the Seattle and the Tennessee drivers escaped the fires unharmed.

The lithium batteries in some hybrid and electrical vehicles have been flagged for fire dangers before. It is the very volatility of lithium batteries that make them so powerful and long-lasting compared to the ordinary type of chemical batteries in AA and other sizes that we use in so many of our toys and portable devices. The Tesla Model S, for instance, can travel up to 265 miles on a single charge. That’s about the same mileage I can get out of my car on a single tank of gas.

The U.S. NHTSA probe affects over 13,000 Model S vehicles from the 2013 model year. The results of the probe will likely not be available for months. Tesla is cooperating with the investigation and the company’s CEO says that if a problem is found, the company will repair the cars free of charge. Our Houston car fire injury lawyers report that Tesla has already issued some software updates and also updated its warranty to include fire damage.

Government data records approximately 194,000 vehicle fires annually on U.S. roads. More than 60% of those fires start in the engine compartment. The vast majority occurs in gas-powered vehicles. Currently, less than 1% of U.S. cars are electric. Around 300 people are killed and another 1,250 injured each year in these vehicle fires.

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