Tesla big rig fire

   / Tesla big rig fire #51  
I think CHP reported this was the truck (cab) only, without a trailer.

So maybe it was going up to McCarran east of Reno, the Tesla plant where they are built, for some reason.

A few months ago I posted this photo of one we saw at the Pedrick Rd fruit stand 20 miles west of Sacramento on I-80. Here's the photo again. Like Torvy noted in Texas, these are used for regional delivery where they can go home at night. Most of the populated areas out of Sacramento (Pepsi's regional HQ) are near sea level, easy hauling.

716819428-jpg.870399

While still not my cup of tea, it genuinely is better looking than most of their products.
 
   / Tesla big rig fire #52  
This is not a Tesla problem.
I would say it is now. You are right though, can't blame driver error on the vehicle.
Hmmmm.....in 53 years I have never ONCE had a gas or diesel fire. Except when I throw it in my woodstove to get it started, LOL

All the fires in my vehicles are safely contained inside their COMBUSTION CHAMBERS. Bahahahaha
I have. The fuel pump on my pickup leaked and I didn't know. Luckily it was in the driveway and my mother noticed, yelled to me and I was able to put it put. A couple of years ago I was fueling my truck when I noticed a car parked nearby with flames coming out from under the hood and somebody trying to put it out with a fire extinguisher. I grabbed another from the station and started to help him until the clerk came out and told us the FD was on the way and had told us to stop.
In hindsight I wish I'd taken both and emptied them under the car, hoping it would act like when you put out a chimney fire. I had a picture but can't find it now.
 
   / Tesla big rig fire #53  
At least an ICE fire doesn't burn at 5000F. Also, can be extinguished with an ABC extinguisher
 
   / Tesla big rig fire #54  
Thinking about this some more - after the CHP rep said the driver was unhurt and DUI not suspected, then I think the driver would have complained about mechanical failure if that had taken him off the road.

So until we know more, this crash looks like pure driver error.
 
   / Tesla big rig fire #55  
That is a thing with EV fires. The batteries are sealed and armored enough that getting water on them is problematic.
The problem is that even when you cool the batteries down to where the plastics dont burn, the damaged cells will keep on releasing energy in the form of heat, so it quickly gets back to the temperature where the plastic parts start to burn again.

Some fire corps have a sealed dumpster full of water, in which they load the EV so the battery is cooled untill all energy is released. That takes a week or two..
 
   / Tesla big rig fire
  • Thread Starter
#59  
The problem was localised between the seat and the steering wheel...

The crash itself was likely due to driver error... unless he lost steering power or something.

The all-day fire and toxicity requiring a 1/2 mile setback on the other hand wasn't.
 

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