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​On the left is a photograph of I-80 eastbound, showing the postcrash fire. On the right is a photograph of the 2024 Tesla Semi at final rest. (Source: California Highway Patrol)
16 Sep 2024

Electric semi-truck lithium battery fire took 189,000 litres of water to extinguish, according to NTSB reports

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Photo by Califormia Highway Patrol.A Tesla semi-truck fire in August required 50,000 gallons ( 189,000 litres) of water to extinguish, according to a report from the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

The incident, which occurred in August, on US Interstate highway I-80,  involved one of Tesla's electric long hauling semi-trucks and resulted in a significant closure of the highway while emergency crews worked to control the fire.

Cal Fire crews were dispatched to an electric semi-truck fire around 3 a.m. near Emigrant Gap. Upon arrival, the situation was escalated due to hazardous materials concerns, as the California Highway Patrol confirmed the potential release of toxic fumes from the truck’s lithium-ion batteries. 

The battery fire posed special risks, requiring specialized handling and containment efforts to ensure both the fire and the fumes were safely managed.

 

Read the report from NTSB

 

The large batteries continued to reignite even after initial attempts to put out the fire. Crews were forced to use an unusually large volume of water to fully extinguish the fire due to the specific hazards associated with lithium-ion battery fires.

The NTSB is continuing its investigation into the incident, focusing on what caused the fire and how future incidents involving electric trucks can be better managed to minimize risks and resource use. No injuries were reported, but the fire has raised concerns about the complexities of dealing with electric vehicle fires on a large scale.

CBS News writes that the report from the National Transportation Safety Board investigation into August's Tesla semi-truck fire shut down the Interstate highway no  80 for several hours.

According to UPI News, the highway was closed for more than 14 hours.

 

Batteries ignited after crashing into a tree

Investigators detailed that the battery-powered Tesla semi-truck crashed near Emigrant Gap shortly after 3 a.m. on August 19, 2024

Following the crash, the truck's battery pack ignited.

According to NTSB officials  the truck was being operated by a Tesla employee and was heading from Livermore to a Tesla facility in Sparks, Nevada. 

"Traffic on I-80 was diverted as emergency responders worked to control the fire, using about 50,000 gallons of water to extinguish the flames and cool the vehicle's batteries," the NTSB said in a statement.

"Air quality measurements were conducted, and a thermal scanner monitored the batteries' temperature. Additionally, CAL FIRE used an aircraft to apply fire retardant to the immediate area as a precautionary measure."

According to investigators, the Tesla semi-truck first collided with a traffic delineator before hitting a tree and continuing down a slope, eventually coming to rest against more trees. Following the crash, the truck's lithium-ion batteries ignited, resulting in a significant fire.

The battery-powered 2024 Tesla semi-truck veered off the road while navigating an uphill right-hand curve, resulting in a single-vehicle crash. The truck collided with a tree, which ultimately led to the ignition of its lithium-ion batteries.

"The vehicle's lithium-ion electric battery system ignited after the roadway departure, resulting in a post-crash fire," NTSB's statement said. 

 

The I-80 freeway remained closed for more than 12 hours following the Tesla semi-truck fire. According to the report, the extended closure was partly due to concerns about the truck's lithium-ion batteries, which needed to cool down to a safe temperature before recovery operations could begin.

Afterward, recovery teams transported the truck to an undisclosed open-air facility where it was monitored for 24 hours to ensure the batteries did not reignite. Fortunately, no further incidents occurred during this period.

The truck driver emerged unharmed from the crash. The NTSB report also mentioned that although the truck had Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), they were not operational at the time of the accident and could not be activated. 

The investigation is ongoing, with safety recommendations expected to follow.

 

An unusually large 900 kWh lithium battery with a 500 mile (800 km) battery range

According to the site Inside EVs,  the Tesla Semi's large battery, is estimated to be between 850 and 900 kilowatt-hours (kWh) for the 500-mile range version, and is designed for long-haul trucking. 

This size is significantly larger than typical electric vehicles. For comparison, a standard electric car or crossover usually has a battery capacity of 75-85 kWh, while electric pickup trucks range between 123 kWh and 205 kWh. The Semi's 900 kWh battery underscores its immense energy storage, highlighting the challenges posed by incidents like fires, where vast amounts of water and time are required for cooling.

"The long-promised Semi has been seen in testing across the country and is currently in use by a small number of corporate fleets, including PepsiCo", Inside EVs wrote on August 22, 2024.

 

Photo Credit: ​On the left is a photograph of I-80 eastbound, showing the postcrash fire. On the right is a photograph of the 2024 Tesla Semi at final rest. (Source: California Highway Patrol)