Tesla Semi fire triggers massive highway closure and safety concerns

Accidents involving electric vehicles like the Tesla Semi are garnering increasing interest, particularly concerning the safety of their technologically advanced batteries that some want to charge more quickly. The recent incident has once again highlighted this issue. Although the causes of the accident are still being investigated, questions are already arising about the possibility of battery overheating and the safety of drivers on long hauls.

Early Monday morning on Interstate 80, at the California-Nevada border, a serious accident occurred involving a Tesla Semi truck. The electric vehicle, which was not hauling any trailers, veered off the road, struck trees, and burst into flames. As a result of this incident, the highway was closed for nearly 16 hours, causing massive traffic disruptions.

Emergency services, including fire crews, worked intensely to combat the flames, attempting to cool the truck's lithium-ion battery. Only after many hours were they able to bring the temperature down to a safe level, allowing the wreckage to be transported to Tesla's Gigafactory in Sparks, Nevada.

The investigation into the causes of the Tesla Semi truck accident is ongoing, but initial speculations are emerging. Road authorities are examining whether the driver might have fallen asleep at the wheel, which could have led to the off-road incident and striking the trees. The Tesla Semi, an electric Class 8 vehicle, is equipped with an advanced set of lithium-ion batteries prone to overheating and can pose a fire hazard.

Firefighters used thousands of litres of water to cool the vehicle's batteries and prevent further explosions. Although the Tesla Semi was not hauling a trailer at the time of the accident, its battery alone posed a significant threat. Instances of fires involving large Tesla batteries are not new—similar incidents have previously occurred in California, further intensifying interest and concerns about the safety of these vehicles.