Tesla caught fire and exploded in front of a house, he was trying to charge it for free

A Tesla Model S caught fire after a free, but completely illegal, charging attempt. The electric car was plugged directly into the power grid, causing the battery voltage to spike to a deadly high. Firefighters struggled to put out the blaze.

An unusual scene recently occurred in Tijuana, Mexico, to say the least. What appeared to be a simple house fire turned out to be the result of an attempt to charge a Tesla Model S for free, but illegally.

Tesla Model S sets house on fire while illegally charging

Firefighters, who were called to the scene of what was initially reported as an abandoned house fire, discovered to their surprise that the fire had started in a Tesla Model S parked in front of the house. Even more surprising, The car was directly connected to a power line.in an apparent attempt at very dangerous free shipping.

This practice consists of: Hacking power lines or meters Getting free electricity seems to be common in the area. But the current and voltage changes caused by this method likely exceeded the capabilities of the Model S's battery and circuits, causing it to catch fire.

The incident raises important questions about the safety of electric vehicles, even as Tesla and some experts argue that the fire risk is lower than that of gasoline-powered vehicles. In its latest environmental impact report, the manufacturer claims that only seven of its vehicles catch fire per million miles driven, about nine times lower than the average internal combustion vehicle.

Read: Tesla Model 3: How a simple piece of debris caused a massive fire on the road

However, the incident serves as a reminder that lithium-ion battery fires in electric vehicles pose special challenges for emergency services. These lights It is very difficult to put out.even with specialized fire extinguishers (such as Firexo, designed for Li-ion cells). Since batteries tend to re-ignite, firefighters must follow specific training and use specialized tools, such as high-pressure lances capable of puncturing the battery pack to get directly to the cells.

Faced with this complex situation, Tijuana firefighters opted for a radical solution: they Build earth barriers around the car. And I soaked him in waterand let the fire go out on its own.

While electric cars are generally safe when used according to the manufacturer's recommendations, any deviation from charging protocols can have serious consequences. We also remember the Tesla Model Y that took place in downtown Brest.