-
Want to remove ads? Register an account and login to see fewer ads, and become a Supporting Member to remove almost all ads.
Ugh. Another Model S fire - 2013-11-06
- Thread starter tommolog
- Start date
-
- Tags
- Driving Dynamics fire Model S
First I'd like to say I'm a fan of Tesla and have a desire to buy a MS. Previously the lack of automatically folding mirrors was an obstacle for considering purchase of a MS. The MS is wide and we would only have 6 inches on either side to fit through the garage door. Once in there's lots of space.
Now I have a new concern. In view of the 2 or 3 recent events in the US, I don't understand the risk associated with battery pack damage due to road debris. The surface area exposure of the battery pack to the road is definitely large and the car rides low. The battery placement is great for performance but appears to increase the likelihood of damage significantly.
I understand that the occupant stays safe, but the prospect of a total loss due to road debris is not appealing. I wonder how comprehensive insurance ratse will be affected?
Furthermore I would expect to own the car for 10-15 years and wonder how accumulated damage (scratches and bruises) could affect battery pack performance. Even if catastrophic failure isn't experienced, will I still be able to do a quick battery swap? Is there any degradation to the battery in terms of capacity or quality?
Also, I wouldn't call quarter inch aluminum plate armor. I believe It's important that Tesla address these concerns seriously and openly.
Now I have a new concern. In view of the 2 or 3 recent events in the US, I don't understand the risk associated with battery pack damage due to road debris. The surface area exposure of the battery pack to the road is definitely large and the car rides low. The battery placement is great for performance but appears to increase the likelihood of damage significantly.
I understand that the occupant stays safe, but the prospect of a total loss due to road debris is not appealing. I wonder how comprehensive insurance ratse will be affected?
Furthermore I would expect to own the car for 10-15 years and wonder how accumulated damage (scratches and bruises) could affect battery pack performance. Even if catastrophic failure isn't experienced, will I still be able to do a quick battery swap? Is there any degradation to the battery in terms of capacity or quality?
Also, I wouldn't call quarter inch aluminum plate armor. I believe It's important that Tesla address these concerns seriously and openly.
Last edited:
"Increase" relative to what? A parked car in a garage? Or do you have some comparative statistics in mind that you aren't sharing with the class?
At least he is consistent. His Roadster plate says BLUTSLA.
- - - Updated - - -
You realize it's highly illegal to have have object leave your vehicle. A candy wrapper is littering, a suitcase or bicycle is dangerous for those behind you, A ladder is dangerous and criminal and a 900 pound flaming battery is insane!
JRP3
Hyperactive Member
So you're suggesting a discussion board where there is no discussion? This happens to be a huge issue, hence the discussion.
As has been discussed it probably does nothing to protect against point loading, which is quite different than an explosion.
scottf200
Well-Known Member
Last edited:
I was simply making an observation that the tone (omg will someone think of the children!) and lack of humility (well clearly Tesla doesn't get it so here's my proposal from 3 minutes ago that they should immediately implement) is a bit troubling. Again I think the opponents are taking notes on these reactions.
There's more overreaction here (and the many zomg-fire-do-something threads) than on the TSLA stock threads. Hard to believe.
"Increase" relative to what? A parked car in a garage? Or do you have some comparative statistics in mind that you aren't sharing with the class?
It's just the fact that the battery pack spreads out over most of the car's underside that the risk of damage from road debris should be significantly higher compared to Leaf and Volt battery placement and compared to gasoline tank placement. I don't have statistics, this seems obvious to me.
I would really like to see an improvement to the design.
Hi Mile Erlic,
Minor nicks and scratches won't affect the battery performance unless it either (1) pierces through or (2) dents into the battery cell area.
The fact that the quarter inch is made from aluminum instead of steel actually may decrease the likelihood of (2). If something does pierce, it's likely a significant piece of debris that you have driven over and I'd prefer to have the car be as safe as possible in such a circumstance with insurance replacing the car, rather than take an increased chance at getting maimed, injured, or killed in another car.
In a traditional car, the possible scenarios would likely be:
- Minor damage to car
- Severe damage to car, no injury
- Severe damage to car, injury/death (breaching any fuel/coolant lines could cause instant fire/explosion, or blowing out the transmission, etc could cause loss of control)
From the perspective of insurance, total loss of a car is actually a minor cost compared to any liabilities if people are hurt. Risk weighted, this likely actually supports the case for lower premiums for insurance.
Even if true, so what? Are we all now trying to say that an electric car must act the same as a gas car? Let's say that road debris does lead to more instances of battery pack punctures which then lead to more pack fires. That does not then translate to a greater instance of danger to the passengers. If the three instances we currently have experiences with are examples, then the Model S, even with the fires, is still one of the safest cars on the road. In all three instances the passenger walked away safely with plenty of time to do so. In one case the guy was drunk and had driven through a wall and into a tree and still got away safe.
Maybe we are all responding in the wrong way to this. Fire!!! Sure it's scary but really I think we are still significantly ahead of what happens with gas cars. Fire doesn't necessarily equal more dangerous.
Just a thought, and I could be way off base here, but I thought I'd throw this into the discussion.
L@urens
Family, Racing, Karting, MTBing
I think we all agree that 'fire' is more dangerous than 'no fire'. If we can prevent it, please do.
RobStark
Well-Known Member
No kidding.
But not at the expense of low center of gravity or the swapability of the battery.
NigelM
Recovering Member
Mod Note: before this thread veers too far away from the original fire discussion, there's a separate thread discussing damage prevention ideas here - Preventing-battery-damage-from-road-debris - some posts were moved there (but none were harmed or injured in the move).
JRP3
Hyperactive Member
Are you sure, because a bunch of them seemed to have disappeared, including one I just posted. It's not in either thread.
Mario Kadastik
Active Member
Are you sure, because a bunch of them seemed to have disappeared, including one I just posted. It's not in either thread.
Could it have smelled a bit that someone put a diaper on it? Sorry, couldn't resist
- - - Updated - - -
Dang, you managed to fix it while I was quoting you
In the "there are worse things than a small fire" department, someone on another board relayed this story:
I sort of thought that the most recent driver's statement that he thought the car saved his life was hyperbole, but as a surgeon maybe he'd seen or heard of similar incidents. Makes you glad to have that battery between you and the road, even if there is some risk of fire...
I sort of thought that the most recent driver's statement that he thought the car saved his life was hyperbole, but as a surgeon maybe he'd seen or heard of similar incidents. Makes you glad to have that battery between you and the road, even if there is some risk of fire...
Similar threads
- Question
