Tesla Model 3 Highland burns while charging, but don't blame the battery

Fortunately, the fire did not spread to the electric vehicle’s battery, making it easier for firefighters to extinguish the fire

The most recent electric vehicle fire occurred in a supermarket parking lot near Athens, Greece.
The rear of a Tesla Model 3 burned to ashes while the electric vehicle was plugged into a charger.
The flames did not reach the battery and the cause of the fire is still under investigation.

A new Tesla Model 3 caught fire while charging in the parking lot of a Greek supermarket, and the aftermath has sparked much discussion online. Interestingly, photos of the charred remains suggest that the fire did not originate from the electric vehicle’s battery.

The incident occurred on Sunday, September 22, in Agia Paraskevi, a suburb outside Athens. The black Tesla Model 3 Highland was reportedly plugged into the supermarket’s charging station when the flames broke out.

More: Audi E-Tron GT catches fire in a car dealership

The only photo capturing the aftermath was shared by user dionysis_bdroid on X. It shows the extent of the damage to the rear of the vehicle, which is a total loss. The shattered rear windows and melted tires are a stark reminder of the intense heat, while the charging station itself looks like it has been through a small inferno.

Investigations ongoing

We contacted the local fire department and they confirmed that they successfully extinguished the fire. An employee told us that the cause was still under investigation, but that the flames had only affected the rear of the vehicle and had not spread to the battery.

A Tesla author has looked into time and weather This is not the case. pic.twitter.com/dsgh2d5kk9

— Διονύσης Χατζόπουλος (@dionysis_bdroid) 22 September 2024

Due to the limited information available, it is possible that the fire was caused by a defective charging cable or adapter.

While several studies indicate that electric vehicles are statistically less prone to fire than internal combustion and hybrid vehicles, the real problem arises when they catch fire. When electric vehicles do catch fire, their batteries are notoriously difficult to extinguish.

Most firefighters receive special training to fight electric vehicle fires. The challenge, however, is that each battery cell catches fire independently, resulting in a lengthy and complex extinguishing process. For this reason, some closed parks have decided to ban electric cars altogether, as the consequences of a battery fire can be catastrophic.

Data from EV FireSafe shows that 15 percent of electric vehicle fires start while charging. Specifically, out of 490 confirmed electric vehicle fires worldwide over the past 14 years, 78 were caused by a charger.