The story so far:
• Three Tesla Model S electric vehicles (EVs) have been involved in significant motor accidents in recent weeks.
• Extreme reaction by the media.
• One of the accidents, in Mexico, is just one more example of a drunk/incompetent/irresponsible person in charge of powerful machinery that has, unfortunately, become a daily occurrence over the past century. Nothing about this event was peculiar to EVs.
• Two events demonstrate something which is, in part, peculiar to the Model S: the battery beneath the floor from axle to axle, is susceptible to penetration by road debris in extreme circumstances.
• When penetrated in this way, the battery of the Model S has, in two cases, caught fire.
• All vehicles are at risk from penetration of the floor pan. This includes the fuel tank, oil pan & fuel lines in internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles.
• Over 500 ICE vehicles catch fire every day in the United States.
• No one was was injured in any of the three events. Amazingly, this included the extreme event in Mexico.
Green Car Reports has this about a road debris penetration event in an ICE vehicle:
http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1088789_how-dangerous-is-road-debris-its-this-dangerous-video
In a road debris floor pan penetration event, I'd take my chances with the armoured floor pan & battery pack of a Model S rather than the millimeter thick floor pan of an ICE vehicle.
More road debris accidents:
http://youtu.be/_oeCe6ff2IY
http://youtu.be/HdAF2nvq3xQ / armored Tesla Model S Elon Musk EV electric vehicle lithium ion LiIon battery cell charge recharge energy electricity kWh Volt Watt kiloWatt hour discharge range safety fire petrol fuel first fire October 1 Kent Washington outside Seattle Model S ran over piece road debris later described curved section fell semi trailer semi-trailer Tesla Model S in flames Kent Washington punched 3 inch 3-inch hole quarter inch thick 1/4-inch-thick armor plate protecting battery pack force 25 tons according report Tesla car alerted driver fault pulled over exited exit car car's owner Robert Carlson Tesla investor performed very well extreme test during accident plan plans buy replacement Model S National Highway Traffic SafetyAdministration NHTSA release released statement Thursday indicate recent battery fire involving Tesla Model S result of a vehicle safety defect non-compliance with federal safety standards second fire October 18 Mérida city Mexican Yucatán apparently occurred Model S driver jumped curb took out several feet concrete wall hit a tree driver reported drunk under the influence alcohol Jalopnik fled the scene not uncommon in Mexico video of the aftermath here NSFW issued statement saying driver appreciative safety performance car expedite delivery of his next Model S fire generated less controversy driver at fault floor pan floorpan /
