Shocking moment Tesla is engulfed in flames as firefighters battle blaze on busy highway
A lithium battery is believed to have caused a fiery fire that engulfed a luxury Tesla on a country road.
NSW Rural Fire Service attended the blaze on the side of the Hume Highway near Penrose in the Southern Highlands, two hours south-west of Sydney.
The Tesla Model 3, which costs more than $60,000, reportedly caught fire when a piece of debris falling from a truck damaged the battery casing.
The fire was caused by a piece of debris that damaged the Tesla’s electric battery (photo)
Both the driver and passenger escaped the car safely on Monday evening, although firefighters had to extinguish the fire for half an hour before it was brought under control.
The electrolyte liquid reaction in lithium batteries makes them extremely difficult to extinguish if they catch fire, and they have been known to spontaneously reignite up to a week later.
Firefighters had to bring in a bulk water tanker and eventually more than 6,000 gallons of water were used before the Tesla stopped burning.
“A very interesting call last night with our first call for an electric vehicle fire,” Penrose Rural Fire Service said.
“The car had struck debris from a vehicle in front of it and was well alight when Penrose Rural Fire Services arrived,”
A Tesla Model 3 costs about $60,000 and is an entry-level Tesla model (photo)
The fire brigade worked for half an hour and used more than 6,000 liters of water on the small fire
The fire occurred on the same day that five luxury cars in a Sydney airport car park were razed after a removed lithium battery caught fire.
Lithium battery fires are becoming an increasing problem around the world as millions of electric cars, electric bicycles, e-scooters and electric garden tools flood into the consumer market.
In Australia alone, 180 lithium battery fires were reported in NSW, 120 in Victoria, 72 in Queensland and 59 in WA last year.
Defective or poor quality batteries can ignite while charging, but they can also catch fire if they are not even connected.
Damage or harsh weather conditions such as direct sunlight or flooding can cause the pressurized electrolyte fluid to leak, which is highly flammable.
Five cars in a Sydney airport car park were razed after a lithium battery caught fire on Monday (pictured)
In Victoria, firefighters respond to at least one battery-related fire every week.
Country Fire Authority chief Garry Cook said Victorians should only buy battery items from reputable suppliers, follow the manufacturer’s instructions and use the compatible charger supplied with the product.
“These devices make our lives easier, but people need to know the risks and ensure they use e-products correctly,” he said.