50,000 Gallons of Water Needed to Put Out Tesla Semi Fire in California

California firefighters had to use around 50,000 gallons (190,000 litres) of water to extinguish a burning battery in a Tesla Semi after a crash, according to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). The agency revealed this information on Thursday. In addition to the water, an aircraft was used to drop fire retardant on the area as a precaution.

The NTSB dispatched investigators to the scene of the crash, which occurred on August 19 along Interstate 80 near Emigrant Gap, approximately 70 miles (113 kilometres) northeast of Sacramento. The investigation aims to assess the fire risks associated with the truck's large lithium-ion battery.

Fire Risks and Safety Measures

Firefighters reported that the battery reached temperatures of 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit (540 degrees Celsius) while it was ablaze. They used water not only to extinguish the flames but also to cool down the batteries. The freeway remained closed for about 15 hours to ensure the batteries were sufficiently cooled before recovering the truck.

The NTSB's preliminary report stated that the Tesla Semi was not operating on any of Tesla's partially automated driving systems at the time of the crash. These systems were not functional and "could not be engaged," according to the agency.

Details of the Crash

The incident occurred at around 3:13 a.m. when a Tesla employee was driving the tractor-trailer from Livermore, California, to a Tesla facility in Sparks, Nevada. The Semi veered off the road while navigating a right-hand curve and collided with a tree. It then descended a slope and came to rest against several trees. Fortunately, the driver was unharmed.

Following the crash, authorities transported the truck to an open-air facility where it was monitored for 24 hours. The battery did not reignite during this period.

NTSB Recommendations

The NTSB is investigating all aspects of the crash to determine its cause and plans to issue safety recommendations to prevent similar incidents in the future. A message seeking comment from Tesla, headquartered in Austin, Texas, was left on Thursday.

In a previous investigation concluded in 2021, the NTSB found that high-voltage electric vehicle battery fires pose significant risks to first responders. The agency noted that existing guidelines from manufacturers on handling such fires were inadequate.

The NTSB recommended that manufacturers develop vehicle-specific response guides for addressing battery fires and preventing chemical thermal runaway and reignition. These guidelines should also include instructions on safely storing vehicles with damaged lithium-ion batteries.

Tesla Semi Specifications

Tesla began delivering its electric Semis in December 2022, over three years after CEO Elon Musk announced production would start. Musk has claimed that the Semi can travel up to 500 miles (800 kilometres) per charge while hauling an 82,000-pound (37,000-kilogram) load.

The NTSB continues its investigation into this incident and will provide further updates as they become available.