In addition to the vast amount of water used, aircraft were also deployed to drop fire retardant over the "immediate area" surrounding the electric truck as part of safety measures. The agency's initial report revealed that the battery's temperature had soared to a worrying 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit during the blaze.
The incident occurred on August 19 on Interstate 80 near Emigrant Gap, about 70 miles northeast of Sacramento. Investigators from the NTSB rushed to the scene, focusing their investigation on the potential fire risks associated with the truck's large lithium-ion battery pack.
The investigation found that at the time of the crash, the truck was not using any of Tesla's semi-autonomous driving features. In fact, these systems were not active and "could not be engaged," the agency reported.
According to the report, the vehicle veered off the road while navigating a curve and hit a tree. It then rolled down a slope and came to rest against several trees.
Firefighters used water to douse the flames and cool the batteries.
The motorway was closed for around 15 hours while firefighters ensured the batteries were cooled enough to safely remove the truck. The vehicle was then moved to an open-air facility where it was monitored for a full day.
During this time, the battery did not reignite.
The NTSB has announced that they are investigating all aspects of the crash as they aim to identify the cause. They plan to issue safety recommendations to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Tesla, based in Austin, Texas , has not yet commented on the incident. A message was left seeking their response last Thursday.
In a previous investigation concluded in 2021, the NTSB found that fires involving high-voltage electric vehicle batteries pose significant risks to first responders. They also determined that the guidelines provided by manufacturers on how to handle such situations were insufficient.
Although the agency lacks enforcement powers and can only make recommendations, it has urged manufacturers to develop vehicle-specific guides for handling battery fires and preventing chemical thermal runaway and reignition. According to the agency, these guidelines should also provide information on how to safely store vehicles with damaged lithium-ion batteries.
Tesla began distributing its electric Semis in December 2022, a full three years after CEO Elon Musk pledged that the trucks would be on the road. Musk has stated that the Semi can cover up to 500 miles on a single charge while carrying an 82,000-pound load.
Do you know how much money and resources were wasted on only one Semi ! We need to stop making these electric cars and focus on making cars use less Gasoline ! Better engines !
Brenda Robbins
10m ago
brainless Biden and his big idea of all electric that some people can't afford. Kill us all before we get invaded
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