A 2022 Tesla Model 3 caught fire and completely burned up in Newark, New Jersey.
The driver reported hitting an object in the roadway shortly before the vehicle started displaying warnings that there was a critical problem. They then pulled over to the side of the road, notified authorities, and exited the vehicle safely before the battery pack started smoking badly and eventually erupted in flames.
The thing that initially stood out to me was how this sounded just like the vulnerability that the Tesla Model S had when it first launched, causing the NHTSA to launch a formal investigation. In that case, multiple vehicles went on fire after striking road debris before Tesla resolved the issue.
The solution was to add a titanium plate and an aluminum deflector under the vehicles, which better protected them from debris strikes.
The cure - DON'T drive your new Tesla on the road & dont get it wet either & dont charge it in your garage, and dont let your EV sit for a few days unsupervised. Lock it in a fire proof room before going to sleep.
