Reports: Tesla Model S bursts into flames during test drive in France

www.mlive.com ^ | updated August 16, 2016 at 8:45 AM | By David Muller

[Red Badger]

DETROIT - A Tesla Model S spontaneously burst into flames in Monday while on a test drive in France, according to French media reports.

The car was being driven by a couple and a representative of Tesla as part of an event hosted by the California electric carmaker. The Model S sedan was cruising on the boulevard d'Aritxague in Bayonne in the southwest of France when the incident occurred.

The driver of the car told French media outlet Sud Ouest that after a little acceleration there was a warning noise in the car, at which point the Tesla host told the driver to pull over so she could call Tesla about the issue before continuing the test drive.

The trio then saw white smoke, and exited the vehicle. The driver, identified only as Nicolas, said the car was engulfed in flames in less than a minute and totally destroyed within five minutes. No one was injured.

Tesla said in a statement to Agence France Presse the company is working with authorities to determine what happened.

A video of the car engulfed in flames was posted to Twitter:

Incendie de la #Tesla lundi 15 août 2016 à #Bayonne. Avant l'arrivée des pompiers. Voiture complètement détruite. pic.twitter.com/qT8h6ccFoP — Cédric Faiche (@cedricfaiche) August 15, 2016

[rigelkentaurus]

This is the perfect car for a European!!! A car the sets itself on fire, thereby saving a mooselimb the effort to torch it!

[COBOL2Java]

[factoryrat]

Just imagine if it had a gas engine in it, and it sprung a leak and lit up.

A Li-ion battery pack holds just a fraction of the energy that’s contained in a tank of gasoline.

Attempt to put out a car fire and you’ll see what I mean.

[fella]

Sounds like the car had “A Hitlery” (short circuit)

[PAR35]

Own stock in the company? Or just an environmentalist?

[max americana]

Tesla rep: “Oh that’s our external flame retardant. Nothing at all. “

[Red Badger]

If it had a gasoline engine it would not have caught on fire!..................

[blueunicorn6]

Yes, but let’s look at the silver-lining on this.

A garage was saved from a fiery demise.

[Moonman62]

Are you a jackass?

[Red Badger]

Tesla Rep: A minor inconvenience, Monsieur! Our technical staff can fix that, tout suite! Now just look at that luxurious, fine Corinthian leather!...................

[Dr. Sivana]

Yes, but before the modern technology, they would not have been told to exit the car!

[piytar]

I have a friend who is a lieutenant in the Columbus, OH fire department. He said they won’t get near burning hybrid or electric cars without putting on full hazmat suits because of the utterly toxic fumes the batteries emit when they burn. He said, “those fumes will turn your flesh to soap in about five minutes.”

Not good for people in the car if they don’t get out FAST.

[Red Badger]

If they are millenials, they would wait for a TEXT message!...................

[right way right]

At a Tesla hosted event.....a boasted car roasted....bummer for Tesla.

[Red Badger]

Somebody’s gonna get FIRED.................

[lacrew]

Non-flammable is just an upgrade...like floor mats.

[lacrew]

Our family had one when I was young. I remember there was a persistent ‘wiring burning’ smell coming through the vents, and my brother and I took turns chasing after the hubcaps that flew off.

[Red Badger]

Not only that, but the battery electric potential is over 200V with a huge amount of current capability. Electrocution is extremely likely if the ‘Jaws of Life’ operator is not aware of where the cable from the battery to the motor is located!................

[Dr. Sivana]

A Li-ion battery pack holds just a fraction of the energy that’s contained in a tank of gasoline.

I've had two car fires. One was in a 1973 Dodge Dart (Desireé) due to a bad oil pump. The small fire in the engine area died out, because the tank itself did not catch fire. The engine was replaced and we got a couple more years out of the Dart until she dies of rusty torsion bar holders.

The 1991 Mercury Grand Marquis just kept on burning, and yes, the conflagration was MUCH largesr than the picture. If it weren't my car, I would have gotten a big kick out of the cabin's cloth interior burnig, and then the big WHOOSH when the side windows shattered, letting in all that nice oxygen all at once. Unfortunately, I had installed a loaner car stereo in the car to test some mp3 audiobooks. My 2 year old daughter lamented the loss of her Caillou CD which I forgot to remove from the car as the smoke was billowing into the cabin. Good times.

[Red Badger]

I guess ‘Fire Engine Red’ is one of the standard colors..................