Tesla Semi fire shuts down California highway after crash

A recent crash involving a Tesla semitruck in California is highlighting the challenges in transitioning to green energy sources. The crash occurred near the Nevada-California border on Monday, Aug 19.

As the U.S. looks to electrify different parts of transit, such as buses and trains, semitrucks are also getting the EV treatment.

California registers the highest number of electric vehicle purchases in the country, and some look to big trucks to help lower shipping’s carbon footprint. The incident is also sparking a new debate among California lawmakers. A day after the crash, California Republicans are calling on Gov. Gavin Newsom, D-Ca., to delay the state’s all-electric mandate for big rigs.

During this recent crash, fire crews were quick to arrive on scene after the semitruck crashed into a group of trees and caught fire. Fires started by electric vehicles can be a lot more difficult to put out, as they are started by lithium-ion batteries.

The incident caused significant road closures, which lasted nearly 16 hours. According to reports from Electrek, thousands of gallons of water were used to reduce the temperature of the battery pack to a safe level. Crews had to wait for the battery cells to burn out.

The California Highway Patrol told KCRA3 that the driver remarkably walked away from the crash and was later taken to a hospital. Authorities are investigating the cause of the crash, including the possibility that the driver may have fallen asleep.

In a letter, Republicans argue that the state isn’t ready for the mandate. They cite safety concerns and question the state’s plan for handling electric truck fires.

Tesla often uses its electric semitrucks to transport EV batteries. In this case, the truck wasn’t pulling a trailer, which means it was likely the truck’s own batteries that fueled the fire.

This isn’t Tesla’s first brush with large battery fires. Back in 2022, the company’s megawatt energy storage batteries caught fire at a local utility, shutting down another part of a highway.