If it isn’t one thing, it’s another, but that’s not preventing Tesla Motors from making changes to address things that are not even under its control, such as the charging station a Tesla Model S is plugged into.
Many people have heard that Tesla Motors‘ Tesla Model S, as well as other lithium-ion-powered vehicles, such as the Chevy Volt and Brammo motorcycle, pose a fire risk if the electrolyte ignites. Of course, this also requires that the battery pack is compromised in some way, such as by impact with a solid object. This was the case with three Tesla Model S is just about as many weeks, which may come as a surprise when considering the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) Five-Star Safety-Rated vehicle. On the other hand, violence and technology have never been good bedfellows.
The NHTSA has recently confirmed the Tesla Model S’s safety rating and, although it is still investigating the three fires, Tesla Motors asserts there will be no recalls. While we wait for the NHTSA to complete its investigation, the German KBA has already said it can’t find any problems with the car. The charging station and the house wiring, on the other hand, could be a problem, considering a recent fire in a Tesla Model S owner’s garage.
The source of the fire was determined not to be the vehicle, but the charging station, specifically the house wiring that fed it. The car was undamaged, but repairs, and probably retrofitting, will be required in the owner’s garage. Tesla Motors has just released a software update which should help to mitigate any problems with the charging station and wiring. If the Tesla Model S onboard charging module detects any fluctuations in input power, it will automatically reduce charge current by 25%. If the circuits feeding the charging station isn’t up to snuff, Tesla Motors’ software update just might save your house!
Photo credit: Duncan Rawlinson. Duncan.co / Foter.com / CC BY-NC
