Tesla Semi Fire Highlights Risks of Large Lithium-Ion Batteries

Here are 10 key points about the recent Tesla Semi fire incident in California:

1. Massive Water Usage: Firefighters used an astonishing 50,000 gallons of water to extinguish the fire in a Tesla Semi.
2. High Temperatures: The battery reached temperatures of 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit during the blaze.
3. Crash Details: The fire occurred after a Tesla Semi, driven by a Tesla employee, crashed on a California interstate.
4. Fire Retardant Air Drop: In addition to water, firefighters used an aircraft to drop fire retardant on the area as a precaution.
5. Battery Fire Risks: The incident highlights the fire risks associated with large lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles.
6. NTSB Investigation: The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating the crash and the subsequent fire.
7. No Automated Systems: The Tesla Semi was not operating on any of Tesla’s partially automated driving systems at the time of the crash.
8. Driver Safety: Fortunately, the driver was not injured in the crash.
9. Road Closure: The freeway was closed for about 15 hours to ensure the batteries were cool enough to recover the truck.
10. Future Safety Recommendations: The NTSB plans to issue safety recommendations to prevent similar incidents in the future.

This incident underscores the challenges and risks associated with electric vehicle fires, particularly those involving large battery packs.