DonTom
Well-known member
This is just a few miles east of me from here in Auburn:
-Don- Auburn, CA
-Don- Auburn, CA
Tesla Semi fire! Near here!
- Thread starter DonTom
- Start date
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Arch Hoagland
Well-known member
I didn't hear them say anything about the driver. Hope he or she is OK.
Arch Hoagland
Well-known member
Toxic fumes from Tesla EV semi fire shut down I-80 in Sierra. Batteries smoldered for hours
This article says driver wasn't injured and there was no trailer attached to the Tesla truck.
This article says driver wasn't injured and there was no trailer attached to the Tesla truck.
OP
OP
DonTom
Well-known member
Eastbound is uphill, so I wonder what happened.
And steep up hill in that area.
-Don- Auburn, CA
And steep up hill in that area.
-Don- Auburn, CA
Lou Schneider
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After this accident, along with the one that closed I-15 between Barstow and Las Vegas a couple of weeks ago, I wonder if vehicles containing or carrying large lithium batteries should be subject to the same restrictions we place on transporting other hazardous or flammable materials? This time it was just the internal batteries in a Tesla semi catching fire (there was no trailer involved) but it closed the freeway for 15 hours. I-15 between Barstow and Las Vegas was closed for 40+ hours stranding people in 100+ degree heat when a trailer containing industrial lithium batteries 6 times larger crashed and burned. Good thing both of these accidents were in areas with little or no population - imagine if they happened in a tunnel or in a crowded city environment.
Lou Schneider
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I'm sure we'll find out in the next couple of days as the investigation continues, but here's my guess. Since the truck was running bobtail, it was either brand new and being delivered to the customer or the driver completed a run, dropped off the loaded trailer and fell asleep in the quiet cab as he was deadheading back to the terminal. A fully loaded Tesla truck can maintain highway speeds up any Interstate compliant grade so a bobtail tractor wouldn't even break a sweat going up that hill.
John From Detroit
Well-known member
This type of closure is not all that uncommon many types of accidents close freeways. Not just Haz-Mat/Battery fires but any fatal and some other accidents close the freeway for hours. and hours. Being the person who made the calls to Wayne County Roads for the flashers (Arrow trucks) and mobile barricade trucks.... I've had to deal with a few of those.
RedForeman
Well-known member
Could be as simple as a steer tire blowout, swerved to avoid a big critter in the road, or possibly the driver suffered a medical crisis. 0300 crash also could have been a sleepy driver. However, I'd expect a Tesla semi is equipped with the most intrusive I mean modern lane departure tech available. Randomly drifting off the road would be unlikely.
As a commercial driver, I find that very odd as well. Usually the media is focused on the driver being either perp walked or life flighted off the scene. Maybe in all the novelty battery fire mayhem they forgot to report that.
NY_Dutch
Well-known member
The link in post #3 says the driver was ok.
OP
OP
DonTom
Well-known member
Yeah, the thing can probably speed uphills, unlike any other large truck. Since it was 0300 hrs, I assume the guy fell asleep. I wonder if that can be proven one way or the other.
-Don- Auburn, CA
I heard somewhere you can catch a nap while your Tesla drives itself.
Not a semi. No FSD.
Babe2201
Well-known member
Will it come pick you up if you whistle to it?
Joezeppy
Well-known member
Gotta show some leg, first!
Babe2201
Well-known member
I am not sure that will help for me.
Actually there are self driving taxis which will come when called. Putatively they're safer as well.
Lou Schneider
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Yes, it's called Smart Summon. Uses an app on your cell phone instead of whistling to it though.
John From Detroit
Well-known member
Local Chevy (multi-brand) Dealer is running commercials where they take some notable local for a ride in one of their new cars... Now up till recently the Dealer rep, as I recall, was actually Driving (well had hands on the wheel) but today she said something about "super cruse" and look viewer look no hands... Not holding the wheel.
Now in fairness I think the vehicle is not actually moving (it's a green screen job with the background projected or overlayed on a moving background) but They show it "Self Driving"
Only model I noticed was Chevy Equinox EV
Chevy and fords systems (and others) works on the highway but not in the city. Intersections etc.
Tesla FSD can drive you around a city hands free now, but you can’t have a nap as the interiour camera watches your eyes and makes sure you are paying attention. Hence the name FSD supervised. Works pretty good. We rarely drive anymore.
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