Tesla battery fire (no, it's not what you think)

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Trigger warnings: EV, battery fires, Insurance companies, liars, Nascar.

So this is kind of cool. Axa (yes, the huge insurance company) wanted to show just how dangerous Tesla batteries are - possibly to justify their premiums. So they set up a demonstration where they caused one to catch fire.


Pretty scary stuff, right?

But hang on, why is it on a rail clearly getting dragged towards the ramp? Why does the battery suddenly detonate from an undamaged part of the car?

Yep - they faked the whole thing. Took out the batteries (because "safety"), flipped it over and then set off some pyrotechnics.

electrek.co

Tesla battery fire and crash were faked by insurance company in bizarre showcase

An insurance company has faked a Tesla battery fire and crash as part of a bizarre showcase to show that...
electrek.co electrek.co

So 2 key takeaways:
  1. That glass roof is actually pretty good in a crash
  2. Cars stuffed full of explosives can catch fire
Plenty of actual fire videos on the Tube if that's your thing :) This is one of the scariest IMO. I don't follow motorsport but really thought we had stopped the whole sports cars on a track catching fire thing.

 
AXA have done themselves no favours with this nonsense.
 
How sure can we be that the article is valid?

I can't find out who's behind electrek.co but it seems to be a cheerleader site for the electric car industry.
 
AndrewFlannigan said:
How sure can we be that the article is valid?

I can't find out who's behind electrek.co but it seems to be a cheerleader site for the electric car industry.
Click to expand...

AXA have now put out a press release confirming there were no batteries in the car. Google "AXA Tesla fake fire" and you'll find plenty of coverage.
 
Jeez. If true I hope Elon sues their backsides off.
 
Last edited:
Axa now backtracking \ apologising

www-axa-ch.translate.goog

Crash tests 2022

Le 25 août 2022, AXA Suisse a effectué ses crash tests annuels à Dübendorf en présence de représentants des médias, de clients et d’autres invités.
www-axa-ch.translate.goog www-axa-ch.translate.goog
 
To be fair to AXA, I can imagine exactly how this happened. PR team plan to set a Tesla on fire because it's a cool thing to do and will get them some social media traction. Safety team look at it and go "erm, lithium fire? Nope...." so they compromise on a couple of fireworks.

The disappointing thing is this

AXA Switzerland statistics show that, compared to drivers of traditional combustion vehicles, owners of electric cars are responsible for 50% more collisions causing damage to their own vehicle.
Click to expand...
Now I'd love to know if that's because
  1. Owners of EVs have more avoidable crashes with stationary objects because of the unexpected torque
  2. EVs are really good at avoiding crashes with other vehicles and this often involves colliding with street furniture as a least bad option
It's very likely the answer is 1 but AXA truly have this data and choose not to share it. After their latest stunt I'm not sure I'd believe them if they told us.
 
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