Car and Driver: Tesla Model S Catches Fire at Supercharger Station in Norway

A Tesla burned to the ground while it was parked charging at one of the company’s Supercharger fast-charge stations in Norway.

Norwegian TV station NRK reported the 2014 Model S caught fire on New Year’s Day in Brokelandsheia, a town near the southern coast about 130 miles from Oslo. No one was hurt. Tesla and local firefighters had no explanation for the fire, which had to be extinguished with foam due to flames consuming the lithium-ion battery. Photos show only the wheels, underbody, B-pillars, seat frames, and a few other pieces remaining. The owner was not identified.

“Nobody was harmed. We are undergoing a full investigation and will share our findings as soon as possible,” Tesla said in a statement.

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Tesla said it was safe to use its Supercharger stations, which run direct current at upwards of 200 amps to rapidly charge a depleted battery to roughly 80 percent capacity within a half hour. It is likely the first reported fire involving a Supercharger, although not the first Tesla fire. In the fall of 2013, two Model S vehicles caught fire in Tennessee and Washington after debris punctured the battery packs while driving. A third fire during that same time occurred in Mexico after a high-speed crash. This led to a recall in March 2014 that added additional underbody plating and a software revision that adjusted the car’s air suspension to a higher ride height at higher speeds.

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