coldel Posted August 18, 2016 Share Posted August 18, 2016 http://www.autoblog.com/2016/08/15/tesla-model-s-fire-france-test-drive/ At least the error report in the car was correct, no way it can charge whilst on fire Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stutopia Posted August 18, 2016 Share Posted August 18, 2016 Don't worry, "gas powered vehicles catch fire all the time". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coldel Posted August 18, 2016 Author Share Posted August 18, 2016 I know saw that - presume its an americanism of petrol being called gas. That said, they catch fire because they are combustion engines which by their very nature are flammable. How does a battery powered car catch fire? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian@TORQEN Posted August 18, 2016 Share Posted August 18, 2016 Please don't let gangzoom see this!!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coldel Posted August 18, 2016 Author Share Posted August 18, 2016 ...actually is that GZ I see standing in the background in the photo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jetpilot Posted August 18, 2016 Share Posted August 18, 2016 How does a battery powered car catch fire? Have a search for a lipo battery exploding, its pretty spectacular. I use lipos in airsoft guns, you are supposed to charge in fire proof bags etc and if they suffer damage or get punctured, thats when it gets nasty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coldel Posted August 18, 2016 Author Share Posted August 18, 2016 So a Tesla in a bad collision could potentially just explode? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ekona Posted August 18, 2016 Share Posted August 18, 2016 It could, but so could a ICE car. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jetpilot Posted August 18, 2016 Share Posted August 18, 2016 I would imagine the batteries are very well protected Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coldel Posted August 18, 2016 Author Share Posted August 18, 2016 I get ICE cars could, but as mentioned its 100 year old tech and its full of fuel slopping about in a tank along with small explosions going off inside a metal block. I kind of would expect it to have a chance of exploding. Battery cars though, just going up in flames whilst driving along, how has that happened when there is no impact etc? I suspect Tesla are holding back some of the truth in the official report. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stutopia Posted August 18, 2016 Share Posted August 18, 2016 I know saw that - presume its an americanism of petrol being called gas. That said, they catch fire because they are combustion engines which by their very nature are flammable. How does a battery powered car catch fire? It was more that the measurement for success or failure is, so long as they explode less frequently than ICE cars, it's ok! On a more sensible note, battery's just have different volatile chemicals to gas/petrol/diesel cars, so it's just a different risk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ekona Posted August 18, 2016 Share Posted August 18, 2016 Excess heat, loose cable so everything starts arcing, dodgy battery... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gangzoom Posted August 18, 2016 Share Posted August 18, 2016 (edited) I know saw that - presume its an americanism of petrol being called gas. That said, they catch fire because they are combustion engines which by their very nature are flammable. How does a battery powered car catch fire? Lithium is one of the most volatile metals around. The car it self is aluminium which has a much lower melting point than steel. So when it burns it really burns. Add in superchargers now are reportly delivering 150KW, its amazing there hasn't been any more fires. The last one was in Norway which was triggered by a problem with a temporary supercharger. Porche is working on a 800Volt EV charging solution for the Mission E, wouldn't want to be standing nearby when one of those units go pop. Edited August 18, 2016 by gangzoom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Juggalo Posted August 20, 2016 Share Posted August 20, 2016 Tesla could develop the Pinto reputation if they don't resolve it soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gangzoom Posted August 20, 2016 Share Posted August 20, 2016 ^ As far I know this is the only fire in a Tesla this year. Given there are now 130k+ Model S running around the world not on fire its hardly a major concern. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gsexr Posted August 20, 2016 Share Posted August 20, 2016 ^ As far I know this is the only fire in a Tesla this year. Given there are now 130k+ Model S running around the world not on fire its hardly a major concern. Unless your in it at the time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ebized Posted August 20, 2016 Share Posted August 20, 2016 When you see the fire damage to another Tesla earlier this year it just shows how the aluminium bodywork 'evaporates' - unlike other burnt out steel cars where the body-shape is still identifiable https://electrek.co/...-short-circuit/ Earlier today I was reading the September edition of CAR that has a big feature on Tesla, and whilst the development is impressive, it seems Tesla pay for the 'energy' supplied by the superchargers? Whilst that is not a big deal atm, if sales start to go through the roof will they fork out for increasing numbers of superchargers, where there is also a potential fire issue, and supply at the superchargers cannot be met in good time the alternative of owners plugging into a 13amp socket and waiting hours will be less that appealing. Having been involved with electric cars back some 20 years back, it seems the charging issue remains the biggest issue for shall we say the the non die-hard fans that Tesla still want/need to win over, fires aside. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gangzoom Posted August 21, 2016 Share Posted August 21, 2016 (edited) ^I charge my Leaf overnight at home whilst I sleep for about 2p per mile with a 32amp socket. I'll do the same with Tesla. I've done 10k miles now in the Leaf with no issues despite a range of less than 90 miles. Been able to wake up with a fully charged car each morning is so much easier than having to find a petrol station. If you haven't been in a modern day EV I suggest a test drive, the tech is now astonishing. The Model X is in a different league to any other car on the road, it even makes the S feel rather ordinary, but costs less than the equivalent Range Rover. I cannot wait for ours to arrive sometime Feb 2017:). Edited August 21, 2016 by gangzoom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gsexr Posted August 21, 2016 Share Posted August 21, 2016 Wireless charging will be the breakthrough when it happens but until then the range issue will always be there....and the fact that you need cardboard on the spokes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gangzoom Posted August 21, 2016 Share Posted August 21, 2016 (edited) Actually biggest issue I'm having is getting Tesla Birmingham to swtich my Model S order to an X...Considering am asking them to swtich the order to one worth £10k more than the original order they are been unbelievably slow (10 working days and counting). Apparently they are rushed off their feet, but I still would expect some better communication from them considering we are talking about a car order thats equal to a decent house deposit in London town... I cannot see how they are going to cope when the Model 3 finally comes out. Edited August 21, 2016 by gangzoom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ekona Posted August 21, 2016 Share Posted August 21, 2016 And just imagine how useless they'll be when they've actually got your money... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gangzoom Posted August 21, 2016 Share Posted August 21, 2016 And just imagine how useless they'll be when they've actually got your money... I've thought about cancelling the order but sadly there is no alternative. If the Porsche Mission E is out I would order that instead, but as it stands there is no other EV like the X or S on the market. I suspect the sales teams know this. Going back to a combustion car is not going to happen, itll be like asking me to ditch the smart phone for a old Nokia, that path is a non starter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ekona Posted August 21, 2016 Share Posted August 21, 2016 Yeah, heaven forbid you'd actually want some passion in your car ;) It does suck though. Can you not simply transfer your order to a different dealer? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gangzoom Posted August 22, 2016 Share Posted August 22, 2016 I'm more passionate about EVs these days than any combustion car I've owned befofe . Have a plan in place to push things along, so I'll see how things go when I call them up today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ilogikal1 Posted August 22, 2016 Share Posted August 22, 2016 I'm more passionate about EVs these days than any combustion car I've owned befofe . If only you'd show that from time to time... 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.