Emergency crews need more info on EV risks

Potentially nothing at all illustrates the complexity like the lethal Mountain See crash, just one by now familiar to NTSB investigators simply because the board had probed the purpose Tesla’s Autopilot performed in the crash.

Soon after arriving, Tesla’s engineers attempted to inspect battery factors, but popping appears all over again emanated from the battery, in accordance to the report. They resolved it was far too risky to more evaluate the automobile alongside Freeway one zero one.

Authorities necessary a flatbed to stay clear of more pressure on the automobile structure. But it was steel, so they propped the Product X on wood blocks. 6 hours soon after the crash occurred, a fire truck escorted the flatbed from the scene and alongside an hourlong, uneventful journey to an impound lot.

When the Tesla engineers arrived, they underscored the importance of leaving a fifty-foot radius around the automobile. That was impractical, so the personnel “did the very best they could,” in accordance to the report. 20 minutes afterwards, a California Freeway Patrol officer listened to popping appears coming from the Product X, and the San Mateo Fireplace Office was summoned. Forty-five minutes afterwards, they were identified as all over again. The battery had reignited.

5 days soon after the crash, the battery ignited just one previous time, and firefighters arrived to obtain flames eight to twelve inches higher.

“For me, that just one was actually eye-opening,” Barth reported. “The fire section had accessibility to the engineers, and there was nonetheless confusion about how to manage this automobile and the tries to take out the stranded strength they were not able to do it properly. That pointed to the simple fact that, ‘Hey, this stranded strength, there is nonetheless gaps in the regulatory tactic.’ ”

Despite the existence of two fire departments familiar with electric autos and two battery engineers from the automobile manufacturer, the resolution proved vexing, the hazards resilient.