Posted on 05/10/2023 2:09:59 PM PDT by nickcarraway
An Elk Grove father said he is thankful to be alive after his Tesla caught fire Saturday while he was driving.
“It’s just all gone,” Bishal Malla said. “I’m just so lucky to be alive.”
Malla said he had been out running errands nearby and was about to get on Highway 99 near Cosumnes River Boulevard when he felt his car start shaking. He thought it might be a flat tire, he said.
“The moment that I opened the door, I saw smoke coming from the bottom,” he said.
Malla said he had seen reports about Tesla fires, so he quickly got out of the vehicle and called 911.
The smoke, he said, quickly turned into large flames. He said he was acutely aware, however, of the two empty car seats in the back.
“I was about to go home, take the family and the kids, and go to a party,” he said.
Woman's body discovered along Folsom Lake shore, police say Malla said it was hard not to wonder how this could have been different if his family had been in the vehicle at the time of the fire, remembering the extra minutes it takes to get the children out of their seats.
“I’m just speechless right now,” he said.
Battalion Chief Robert Kasparian, of the Cosumnes Fire Department, said the best practice right now for firefighters battling an electric vehicle fire is to let it burn.
“The issue with the electric vehicles is access to the batteries,” he said. “The batteries are what are causing the enormous amount of heat buildup. A lot of times fire departments will just let the vehicle burn until it’s down to the point where they can actually access the batteries and put water or firefighting foam on the batteries themselves.”
He said, anecdotally, that the department seemed to have seen an increase in electric vehicle fires, adding that they can be challenging for first responders. He said electric vehicle fires often require longer response times, a lot of water and additional resources to watch the vehicle to ensure the fire doesn’t reignite after the vehicle is towed away.
Kasparian said it was unclear to fire crews on the scene what exactly caused this fire.
While fires from electric vehicles are harder to put out, an analysis of federal data by AutoinsuranceEZ in 2022 found that hybrid and gas vehicles are more likely to catch fire than electric vehicles. There were 3,474 fires per 100,000 in sales for hybrids, compared to 1,529 for gas vehicles and 25 for electric.
Malla said he was working with his insurance company but did not plan to buy another electric vehicle in the future following his experience.
KCRA 3 has reached out to Tesla for comment.
“gas vehicles are more likely to catch fire than electric vehicles” considering gas has been on the road a lot longer, yeah the numbers bear that out.
Those are interesting numbers. I wish there was more detail. For example, I'd hate to diss on buying gas cars made in the past 20 or so years if most of the 1,529 gas car fires are from the 40 years or older gas cars still on the road. The same for dissing buying a new EV if most of the 25 EV fires are from early model Teslas and Chevy Bolts.
The environmental damage for EV fires is massively more Than for gas cars. An EV fire is an extreme toxic chemical fire.
If I were rich I would start lawsuits based on the environmental damage.
““I was about to go home, take the family and the kids, and go to a party,” he said.”
What an IDIOT, to expose his kids to the risks of an EV. Kids are better off with drunk driving them around.
God in Heaven, I will NEVER buy one of those damn things!
They shouldn’t even be on the road!
You can bet that those stats are manipulated. And not all gas car fires result in the total destruction of the vehicle. While I’ll bet that the vast majority of the EV fires do.
How can Ford support the loss of $60,000 on every EV sold?
Indeed data is right.
Except you forgot to consider, the ICE car fires will be most likely in engine compartment and there is a good chance to escape without getting roasted alive.
EV batteries are closer to passengers and burn more intense.
Prius’ have a “burning down the garage” problem.
The Biggest Problem with Gas cars is High Pressure Rubber Fuel lines only last about 15 years, and high pressure Fuel Systems were universal when Carbs went away 35 years ago.
Simple.
They inflate the prices of the ICE vehicles to offset the losses on the EV's.
TeslaGator, since you don't own an EV, you're needed here to do damage control on EV fires.
Woman dies in ICE car fire:
Does: How can Ford support the loss of $60,000 on every EV sold?”
You: Simple.
Simple.
Ford said that EV’s would be break-even in 2023.
“TeslaGator, since you don’t own an EV, you’re needed here to do damage control on EV fires.”
—————OP Article-———————
While fires from electric vehicles are harder to put out, an analysis of federal data by AutoinsuranceEZ in 2022 found that hybrid and gas vehicles are more likely to catch fire than electric vehicles.
There were 3,474 fires per 100,000 in sales for hybrids, compared to 1,529 for gas vehicles and 25 for electric.
There will be many fires where the family is burned to death in these electric fire traps.
and release very toxic fumes.
“There were 3,474 fires per 100,000 in sales for hybrids, compared to 1,529 for gas vehicles and 25 for electric.”
How many gas fires were linked to “refueling” in their garages?
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