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Tesla Models S Catches Fire For A Third Time, But That’s Fine
Tesla Model S is the world's safest passenger car. This title was bestowed upon the car by the U.S National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) earlier this year. In fact, the Tesla Model S is the safest car tested by the agency until now.
Tesla Model S, considered by many as the best electric passenger car ever, even surpassed the highest overall safety ratings awarded by the agency. Naturally, the public's confidence in the car was very high. Was. That's because that confidence has somewhat been shaken by recent developments which took place within the past six weeks. But it's not a deal that it's being made into. Here's why.
Also Read: Tesla Model S Receives Highest Safety Ratings
On 1st of October 2013, the first fire in a Model S was reported in Seattle. Naturally, it attracted a lot of attention. The incident was the center of media attention for several days. As for the fire, it was caused due to a metallic object coming into contact with the battery compartment at very high speeds.
The fire was contained to the front of the car and the driver was totally unhurt. He even publicly stated his belief in the car's safety was unshaken. Authorities decided it was not necessary to investigate it. Nevertheless, Tesla stocks fell by 6.2 percent the very next day.
October 18th, 2013, the second Models S caught fire in Mexico. This time with a drunken driver behind the wheels. Once again the car was being driven at high speed, evident from the fact that it had crashed right through two concrete walls and hit a tree.
Once again, the driver was unhurt, but the fire was more severe. Like during the first incident, the driver expressed his confidence in the cars safety.
November 6, 2013. barely a month after the first Models S a third fire is reported in Tennessee, U.S.A. This one is similar to the first incident where the car ran over a hitch, impacting the underside of the car resulting in an electric fire.
Like in the previous cases the driver was totally unhurt and even stated the car saved his life. Investigations are still on to determine the exact cause of the fire.
World's safest passenger and arguably the best electric car till date catches fire thrice in about a month's time. Does this make Model S an unsafe car? Is this a pointer towards the inherent safety issues related to electric cars? The answer is NO on both accounts.
It should be kept in mind that internal combustion engined cars catch fire after high speed crashes often. They just don't attract the same kind of attention. The Model S can thus be considered a victim of its own popularity.
It's not unnatural for a battery pack to catch fire if it gets pierced. In the same way a petrol or diesel car can catch fire if the fuel tank is ruptured. Meaning, there is no inherent design or manufacturing fault in the Model S. (Remember, these are not spontaneous fires, like in the Fisker Karmas hybrids.)
It should be kept in mind that in the first two cases the Model S was being driven at high speeds and its also most likely the case in the third incident. The Model S is a powerful electric car which can match the performance of high end sports cars, hitting 100 km/h in less than 4 seconds and capable of reaching 200 km/h.
What's more important is that in all three high speed accidents the drivers were unhurt (the second time, even after crashing through walls and smashing against a tree). This alone should stand as testimony to the life saving capability of the Model S. Having said that, it is perhaps time for Tesla to look into the matter and take further precautions to prevent fires. It would also help if Model S owners are a little more careful while driving considering its sports car like performance.
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