Unsafe Charging Practice Causes Tesla To Catch Fire In Mexico
Today’s electric cars are engineered to ensure maximum safety during daily operation as well as after an accident to prevent emergency responders from getting shocked. Their software also monitors temperature and usage to prolong the lifespan of the battery.
That said, the technology isn’t idiot-proof as there are limits to how far an EV’s safeguards will go to protect itself from damage. According to a report on Carscoops, in Tijuana, Mexico, an owner’s Tesla caught fire and burned down a nearby property after he left it to charge.
While it is true that electric cars can spontaneously catch fire due to several reasons, that isn’t the case here. Instead of connecting it to a certified or professionally installed charging outlet at home, the owner plugged the car into the main power line of the grid in the area.
This seems to be a common yet shady practice in Mexico, where residents tap into the power lines of nearby construction sites or similar places to avoid paying for their own electricity usage. The Tesla owner in question did something similar and ended up ruining his car.
Most electric car manufacturers offer an option to have a wall charger installed in the owner’s home. It’s professionally installed by a service provider who installs it in the home’s main electricity supply. This is a certified charger that talks to the car’s onboard electronics to ensure a safe and secure connection.
According to Suruhanjaya Tenaga, there are four types of EV charging modes based on IEC61851, Mode 1-4. Each comprises various standards of protection that keep the electricity supply in check and ensure maximum safety.
One of the built-in standards for EV home chargers is surge protection that protects the supply from voltage spikes that could deliver unsafe levels of electricity to the EV, damaging the components in the process.
It also monitors the temperature of the charger and limits the power delivery to ensure that it doesn’t overheat. You may have heard of instances where users placed cold towels on Tesla chargers to speed up the charging process. This practice isn’t safe and could lead to unnecessary damage to an EV.
There are also safety systems in EV home chargers that protect against overcurrent deliveries and provide good grounding. They protect the EV charger from supplying an unsafe amount of power to a vehicle that may lead to a fire.
In Malaysia, all wall chargers must adhere to guidelines set in place by the Energy Commission and are installed by certified installers. As such, chances of EVs bursting into flames while charging are low at most. Today’s battery packs, such as BYD’s LFP units are engineered to be even safer, offering better peace of mind for the user.
