The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has launched an investigation into a recent incident involving a Tesla Semi truck that crashed and caught fire on Interstate 80 in California.
The crash, which occurred in the early hours of Monday, August 19, 2024, marks the first known accident involving Tesla’s electric big rig.
The NTSB, in coordination with the California Highway Patrol, has opened a safety investigation into the August 19th crash and fire involving a Tesla electric powered truck tractor on Interstate 80 near Emigrant Gap, California.
— NTSB Newsroom (@NTSB_Newsroom) August 22, 2024
The Incident
At approximately 3:00 a.m. on Monday morning, the Tesla Semi was traveling without a trailer when it veered off the road and caught fire. The resulting blaze ignited nearby brush, prompting authorities to close the highway in both directions for over 13 hours as fire crews worked to contain the fire and secure the scene.
Fortunately, no injuries were reported.
Electric vehicle fires, especially those involving large battery packs like those found in the Tesla Semi, present unique challenges for emergency responders. Unlike fires in traditional internal combustion engine vehicles, EV fires can burn hotter, longer, and have a tendency to reignite, making them more difficult to extinguish.
Battalion Chief Nolan Hale, who was on the scene, highlighted the difficulties posed by the fire, describing it as a “new challenge” for his team. The fire was fueled by an exothermic reaction within the battery cells, which are heavily contained by design but can still pose risks when they fail.
Tesla’s Semi truck, which has been in limited production since late 2022, is still undergoing testing with a select group of early companies like PepsiCo, Walmart, Sysco, and others. The vehicle is also used by Tesla for transporting parts between its manufacturing facilities in California and Nevada. The recent crash will likely provide Tesla and other stakeholders with crucial data on the performance and safety of the Semi under real-world conditions.
