Is there a possibility that charging a Tesla in the garage could cause a fire?

Not any kind of measurable possibility as far as I know. That fire looks like it was electrical in the house wiring to me.

 

I suspect that as well. However, on the other hand, the garage can get extremely hot in the summer, and the temperature can be quite high. Is it dangerous to charge in a garage with such high temperatures? Could the high temperature inside a closed garage be a problem?"

 

Is there a possibility that charging a Tesla in the garage could cause a fire?

The "probbaility" is indeed greater than 0.000001%, but not much.

Odds an ICE vehicle parked will catch fire is at least two orders of magnitude higher. Higher than that for a GM car.

 

Is there a possibility that charging a Tesla in the garage could cause a fire?

You found one article about a single Tesla catching on fire, and that was enough to make you question if this was a concern.

Did you know that combustion vehicles often catch fire in garages? No plugging in necessary!

Combustion vehicles ARE NOT SAFE compared to electric vehicles.

Here are the KNOWN issues. Imagine how many UNKNOWN issues there might be for combustion vehicles!

• Hyundai and Kia recalled 3.4m vehicles, warning to park them outdoors because they risked catching fire. 6 months later, most are still on the road, unrepaired
• Ford urges some of its SUVs to be parked outside over fire risks
• Toyota is not advising people to park recalled RAV4 SUVs outdoors despite reports of engine fires
• Is Honda Un-‘Fit’ To Park in Garage?
• More than 3.7M cars on the road have 'park outside' recalls, Carfax says

 

According to MSB data, there are nearly 611,000 EVs and hybrids in Sweden as of 2022. With an average of 16 EV and hybrid fires per year, there's a 1 in 38,000 chance of fire. There are a total of roughly 4.4 million gas- and diesel-powered passenger vehicles in Sweden, with an average of 3,384 fires per year, for a 1 in 1,300 chance of fire. That means gas and diesel powered passenger vehicles are 29 times more likely to catch fire than EVs and hybrids.

https://www.motortrend.com/features/you-are-wrong-about-ev-fires/

 

Yes.

But there is a MUCH higher chance that pulling an ICE into the garage will catch fire!!! MUCH higher!

Tesla never lets the battery get that hot. As opposed to an ICE on which something as small as a pinhole radiator leak with superheated water can spray onto parts of the car and it catches on fire.

 

I've seen gasoline and engine oil and power steering fluid and transmission fluid combust, but I've never seen engine coolant combust.

 

The coolant itself can't, but in a bad head gasket rupture the coolant system could be filled with semi-combustible gases.

 

That's stretching it a bit, don't ya think?

Exhaust gasses (what is left over after combustion has already occurred) are typically what you find in engine coolant when a head gasket leaks.

 

Water that is no longer under pressure (such as when it leaks out of a cooling system) can only be 212°F at sea level. There is no part of an automobile that will ignite at 212°F - not even the inflator propellant in the air bags and seat belt tensioners.

There are no "gas pumps" under the hood of a Ford Probe. All Probes had electronic fuel injection and used a single fuel pump located inside the fuel tank.

 

And what temperature is the steam going to be?

 

According to the laws of physics, no hotter than 212°F at sea level.

 

You win. Can you get me my Ford Probe back?

It indeed started with radiator steam but ended with fire for which it took multiple extinguishers to put out. And ended up damaging the wiring harness which caused the vehicle to be totaled.

One reason that I knew where the problem was coming from was because it had been a nagging little problem, needing periodic refilling of the radiator.

 

Its going to be 100 here today and I charge, although slowly from a 120V outlet, every day in the driveway. Not
had an issue. Outside would be worse than my garage as the sun would be making the Tesla like an oven.
Sadly anything can cause a fire. Leviton outlets can't handle the continuous draw of current unless you buy the industrial version, I read this online. Hopefully this won't happen to you. If your worried park in the driveway and charge outside.

 

The coolant will raise the boiling point of the water slightly, but a 50/50 mixture of ethylene glycol and water in a cooling system with a 15 PSI cap boils at 268°F. All of the coolant mixture in excess of the capacity of the overflow tank will have left the engine not long after it reaches that temperature. It is simply not possible for engine coolant to get hot enough to ignite any part of an automobile.

 

Here's how media works these days. If there is a vehicle accident, bad driving behaviour, crash and in this case fire...

a) if Tesla then "Create sensationalist title" and add Tesla brand. Why? Drives clicks!
b) not Tesla then "Create boring title about generic vehicle with no brand attach" and if possible "add owner's race or gender"

Ever notice that?

 

Here's how media works these days. If there is a vehicle accident, bad driving behaviour, crash and in this case fire...

a) if Tesla then "Create sensationalist title" and add Tesla brand. Why? Drives clicks!

Unfortunately it's more ridiculous than that. It's more like the press figures everyone believes Tesla is doing dangerous stuff, so they'll make sure to mention something else dangerous about them.

 

You're taking a risk every time you stop at a gas station and get gas.
Gasoline fumes and static electricity don't mix safely. And it's not like gas stations have you install grounding straps before filling up.

How are these combustion vehicles even legal??? They should all be banned! So unsafe!

• Wow, both guy & his truck catch on fire
• Less explody, but still scary

 

• ow, both guy & his truck catch on fire
• Less explody, but still scary

The first link asks me to confirm my age - just NO.
The socone shows a PERFECT example of someone doing EVERYTHING wrong. We've all been told countless times to NEVER get in/out of a vehicle when it's fueling (adding petrol). SHE created the static electric charge by entering and leaving the vehicle (probably wearing some synthetic material like nylon, polyester, etc.) and then sliding across the fabric car seat. Then, once she was "charged", touching the fuel nozzle and that charged touch ignited the fumes.

Only thing she was missing was talking or texting on a cell phone or a CB radio.

( insert something about 'box of chocolates' )

Fortunately the filler neck in the vehicle has an unleaded restrictor with a spring-loaded flapped that closed to slow the release of fumes.

 

Oh, there's also the reason why I decided to buy my first electric lawnmower.

Below is a picture of my old combustion lawnmower, showing a closeup of the engine block. Notice the big hole in it, and the shiny oil inside? My 15yo kid was mowing the lawn when it decided to shoot the piston out the side. I'm VERY lucky that he didn't get injured.

 

The first link asks me to confirm my age - just NO.

The content was marked "adult only" because it's CCTV footage showing a man catching on fire. He appears to survive, but it could be traumatic for a child to watch.

The socone shows a PERFECT example of someone doing EVERYTHING wrong. We've all been told countless times to NEVER get in/out of a vehicle when it's fueling (adding petrol). SHE created the static electric charge by entering and leaving the vehicle (probably wearing some synthetic material like nylon, polyester, etc.) and then sliding across the fabric car seat. Then, once she was "charged", touching the fuel nozzle and that charged touch ignited the fumes.

You call it "doing everything wrong". I call it "WAY too easy to burn yourself, your car, and the gas station to the ground."

And yes, I have been taught not to do what she did, and you have been taught that as well. But where did you learn it? I learned it from my parents. It was never mentioned as part of a PA driver's test. I can certainly understand why some people may not be aware of this danger.

OTOH, I could rub balloons on my head before using a charging station plug and not have any issues. I could dump a bucket of salt water on the plug too without worries. It's simply much safer.

 

You call it "doing everything wrong". I call it "WAY too easy to burn yourself, your car, and the gas station to the ground."

Potato, Tomato?

Moral: Never trust anyone that hasn't been through electronics anti-static training.

 

Not only do 600-amp Supercharger handles overheat, but 48-amp Wall Connector handles and 32-amp Mobile Connector handles do, too, here in Texas.

Tesla uses a smaller gauge wire on the 48-amp WC than other manufacturers use on 40-amp EVSE. The smaller cable is easier to handle, but it sure does get hot!

 

As long as you can hold it, it's not too hot.

 

Even if I couldn't hold it, as long as it's not glowing, smoking, or outgassing, I wouldn't consider it "too hot".

I consider "too hot" when charging current drops in half due to temperature (which I have experienced with both my Mobile Connector and public Wall Connectors).

 

I consider "too hot" when charging current drops in half due to temperature (which I have experienced with both my Mobile Connector and public Wall Connectors).

The best indicator that a cable is too hot is the smell. Once you smell that mixture of hot metal and melting plastic...you know.

 

You're taking a risk every time you stop at a gas station and get gas.
Gasoline fumes and static electricity don't mix safely. And it's not like gas stations have you install grounding straps before filling up.

How are these combustion vehicles even legal??? They should all be banned! So unsafe!

• Wow, both guy & his truck catch on fire
• Less explody, but still scary

The hose at gas station has a ground cable inside. You should always touch the nozzle to the side of the car before fuelling.

Out of the billions of gas station fill-ups only 176 fires were caused by any type of electricity. And yes, the study included static electricity. You’d be more helpful discussing the dangers of being struck by lightning.

 

I suspect you are more likely to be struck by lightning at a gas station than in your garage.