Tesla Semi Truck Accident Sparks Concerns: 50,000 Gallons of Water Used to Extinguish Fire, NTSB Investigates

Tesla Semi Truck Accident Sparks Concerns: 50,000 Gallons of Water Used to Extinguish Fire, NTSB InvestigatesSeptember 14, 2023 - The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released a preliminary report on Friday, detailing an incident involving a Tesla Semi truck that crashed and caught fire last month. The incident required an astonishing 50,000 gallons (approximately 190 cubic meters, weighing around 190 tons) of water to extinguish the blaze, along with aerial firefighting assistance

Tesla Semi Truck Accident Sparks Concerns: 50,000 Gallons of Water Used to Extinguish Fire, NTSB Investigates

September 14, 2023 - The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released a preliminary report on Friday, detailing an incident involving a Tesla Semi truck that crashed and caught fire last month. The incident required an astonishing 50,000 gallons (approximately 190 cubic meters, weighing around 190 tons) of water to extinguish the blaze, along with aerial firefighting assistance. The accident occurred on Interstate 80 west of Lake Tahoe, California, and the NTSB has initiated an investigation.

According to the agency, California firefighters effectively controlled the spread of the fire beyond the accident site by cooling the truck's large battery pack, preventing re-ignition. The electric truck, driven by a Tesla employee at the time of the incident, was traveling from the company's warehouse in Livermore, California to its battery factory in Sparks, Nevada. The crash resulted in the closure of a section of Interstate 80 for 15 hours.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk unveiled the Semi truck design in November 2017, originally projecting its market release in 2020. While mass production is yet to be realized, Tesla is accelerating the expansion of its Nevada plant in preparation for production. In its second-quarter earnings report released in July, Tesla stated, "Construction of the Semi factory is ongoing, with production expected to begin by the end of 2025."

The NTSB report explicitly states that Tesla's driver assistance systems, Autopilot and the FSD (Full Self-Driving) beta version, were not activated during the Semi truck collision and fire. Tesla has not yet responded to the report.

This is not the first incident involving a Tesla Semi truck. In April, a Tesla Semi truck rolled over on a highway in Ohio, injuring the driver. The NTSB investigated that incident and released a preliminary report.

The recent Semi truck collision and fire have reignited concerns about the safety of electric vehicles. While electric cars offer advantages in terms of energy efficiency and environmental friendliness, their battery safety remains a subject of debate. Several electric vehicle fires have occurred in recent years, and the batteries often continue to burn for hours, even days, posing significant challenges to rescue efforts.

This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of prioritizing safety while driving electric vehicles and taking necessary precautions. It also underscores the need for regulatory bodies to strengthen oversight of electric vehicle safety, establishing comprehensive regulations and standards to ensure their safe and reliable development.