Biggest one day stock drop due to auto Fire in Seattle Suburb

[G. David Felt]

Shares of Tesla stock dropped today due to a video showing a tesla on highway 167 in south seattle catching on fire after hitting some steel in the road. Leaving one to wonder just how easy is it for these electric auto's to catch on fire and possibly kill someone.

The incident happened at approximately 8am and was posted on WSDOT Cam web site and local news. It soon became the talk of the office in regards to how safe are these auto's and should they be allowed to be on the road?

Seattle Times had the following story.

http://seattletimes.com/html/businesstechnology/2021951388_teslastockxml.html?syndication=rss

http://www.youtube.com/embed/q0kjI08n4fg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0kjI08n4fg&feature=player_embedded

[Intrepidation]

Leaving one to wonder just how easy is it for these electric auto's to catch on fire and possibly kill someone.

That's cute. Because vehicles carrying a payload of highly flammable fluids never catch fire.

Those last two links are especially incredible when you consider that they are related to electrical problems. In a GASOLINE powered vehicle you say? Clearly this is witchcraft and we should go back to horse drawn carriages.

[SAmadei]

Leaving one to wonder just how easy is it for these electric auto's to catch on fire and possibly kill someone.

That's cute. Because vehicles carrying a payload of highly flammable fluids never catch fire.

The issue is due to the fact that a high number of fires are happening to a type of car that makes up a small percentage of the number of cars on the road.

Also, for the record, gasoline is only highly flammable when its a vapor.

[FAPTurbo]

Shares in Dfelt's Natural Gas business hit negative 9001 dollars this trading day when people realized that fossil fuels are explosive, dangerous and can ignite rapidly.

Washington State Police Captain, F. Ng Obvious told reporters that "fossil fuels are face-meltingly dangerous and detonation can occur if vehicles are involved in accidents."

It became the talk of the office at the $h!tyattle Turds newspaper as to whether vehicles should be allowed to be fuelled by highly compressed, explosive gas. Editors agreed that responsible use, rigorous NHTSA testing and safe driving will minimize the risk of death via fiery pit of doom.

Critics on automotive website Hurrs & Durrs, were less kind.

"OMGZ NATURAL GAS ABORTS BABIES WE NEED TO GO BACK TO STANLEY STEAMERS" said one poster. The $h!tyattle Turds tried contacting C&G for further comment but the website crashed and was not up and running in time for this article's print.

MOAR AT ELOLVIN!q!1!!!

http://www.naturalgaswatch.org/?p=2314

http://www.kristv.com/videoplayer/?video_id=35784&categories=303

[FAPTurbo]

Leaving one to wonder just how easy is it for these electric auto's to catch on fire and possibly kill someone.

That's cute. Because vehicles carrying a payload of highly flammable fluids never catch fire.

The issue is due to the fact that a high number of fires are happening to a type of car that makes up a small percentage of the number of cars on the road.

It's not a high number. An average of 152,000 vehicle fires occur each year.

Collisions and overturns were factors in only 4% of highway vehicle fires, but these incidents accounted for three of every five (60%) automobile fire deaths.

*https://www.nfpa.org/safety-information/for-consumers/vehicles

So that's about 6080 vehicles per year that catch fire due to accident. One or two of those is an electric.

So by my calculation, the answer is OH $h! WHY DO WE DRIVE GAS CARS WE'RE GONNA DIE WTFWTFTWTF

Edited October 3, 2013 by FAPTurbo

[Intrepidation]

That math seems legit.

[ocnblu]

The shrill deflection and attempt at lame humor while trying to suppress a legitimate news story which had a very real affect on Tesla as a company is so very predictable. Belittling dfelt for posting it and belittling his involvement in CNG is also totally uncalled for. The people responsible need to refrain from this type of behaviour in the future, or risk being called out again and again.

[Drew Dowdell]

And Crown Vics exploded when hit in the rear at high speed. Our CRV apparently could catch fire if you had the driver side window down and got rain on the power window switches, Honda recalled our car for that one. There was also a recall for having too much shrapnel in the driver's side airbag...

So I ask.. HOW SAFE ARE HONDAS IF A LITTLE RAIN CAN CAUSE A FIRE!?!

[Intrepidation]

Don't even get started on Ferrari 458's catching fire.

Could there be a problem with the S? That's entirely possible, does it mean every electric car ever made before, now, or since is a fireball waiting to happen? No, but that's what the haters would love everyone to think while conveniently ignoring the very real danger that lives in a tank in their car. This is like that frenzy over the Volt because one caught fire several weeks after being crash tested. People went crazy wondering if BATTERIZ R T3H SAIF?! (while browsing this news from their battery powered mobile devices). Does it mean THE END IS NIGH for Tesla because of one fire? It didn't kill Ford that one time. Or that other time. They are no doubt looking into the cause of the fire as we speak.

[Drew Dowdell]

Or that other time 89,000 Fords were grounded for possible fire hazard.

[FAPTurbo]

The shrill deflection and attempt at lame humor while trying to suppress a legitimate news story which had a very real affect on Tesla as a company is so very predictable. Belittling dfelt for posting it and belittling his involvement in CNG is also totally uncalled for. The people responsible need to refrain from this type of behaviour in the future, or risk being called out again and again.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK!!!!!! LET'S ALL JUST HAVE A SHORT HISTORY LESSON ON SHRILLNESS ON C&G!!

GM News: GM's CEO: Cadillac Will Take On Tesla

He's a dope. Tesla is a fringe product. Full electrics will be fringe products for decades to come.

GM News: General Motors CEO Creates Team To Study Tesla

Akerson needs sacked. What a dope.

Tesla wants have a self driving car built in 3 years

More reason to hate.

Edited October 3, 2013 by FAPTurbo

[FAPTurbo]

Let's not forget Fisker!

Fisker Furloughs Workers, Hires A Bankruptcy Law Firm

My lips are so tired of playing Taps for Finkster. Just die, already!

Not Again...

I think we now have more fireball Fiskers than we had pyrotechnical Pintos. And apparently it is a trait shared by all electric cars. Imagine the death and destruction if these junkers were in customers' garages in the flood zone, instead of at the port. Unsafe At Any Speed.

Fisker Hires A Consulting Company To Help Conserve Cash

...and the much-deserved descent into hell continues...

This guy said it best:

Please just admit your problem is with the powertrain. If this had a 9-bajllion horsepower V8 you would be gushing over it.

LOL!

[ocnblu]

None of those admirable quotes has a shrill tone, you big beautiful man, you. But thanks for the trip down memory lane.

[Justin Bimmer]

I have been spending a lot of time in the Bay Area and if you think this is going to hurt tesla or that tesla is a fad you are wrong. On a daily basis I would see 5-10 of these cars. It is the perfect car for luxury buyers. People who can afford multiple cars and enjoy the new cool and tech in cars.

I promise you every luxury car dealer from San Francisco to San Jose wishes they had a car like this to sell.

[ocnblu]

My answer to that is: the whole state of California is a "fad". Glad to see you back, Mr. Bond!

[G. David Felt]

Latest story on the fire here in Seattle of this Tesla is an interesting read. Wish I had picked up stock at $35 a share at the start of the year. I might not be a fan of electric auto's but I do like good stock rise and right now even with the pull back it still has a 400% gain for the year.

Tesla fire shows electrics face safety challenges

http://www.king5.com/news/business/Tesla-shares-fall-further-on-Model-S-fire-226331891.html

[G. David Felt]

The shrill deflection and attempt at lame humor while trying to suppress a legitimate news story which had a very real affect on Tesla as a company is so very predictable. Belittling dfelt for posting it and belittling his involvement in CNG is also totally uncalled for. The people responsible need to refrain from this type of behaviour in the future, or risk being called out again and again.

Thanks Ocnblu, some just do not understand how safe CNG is as a cheap alternative fuel step away from regular gas.

Back on subject,

It will be interesting to see how GM and other companies deal with this press and how they will change design to add further protection to the battery pack. Plus the need to educate firedepartments on how to fight these fires. Sadly in the news last night a fire department in Eastern washington said that since not all fire departments have dry chemical to extinguish these specialty fire that they would have to consider restricting sales of them in their little town till they could afford proper training and materials.

I had to shake my head at that as it shows much ignorance about the auto's.

[G. David Felt]

Tesla CEO says fire caused by impaled battery

http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2021966757_apusteslafire.html?syndication=rss

Good read.

[pow]

Threads like these remind me why I rarely post here.

Anyhow, my folks have had their Model S for two months and 3,000 miles now, and they're loving every minute of it.

It's the best car I've ever driven, period.

[ocnblu]

Jeez man, everyone has to take the good with the bad. Life is not all sweetness and light. "GM's Biggest Fans and Toughest Critics", does anyone remember that?

[Robert Hall]

Jeez man, everyone has to take the good with the bad. Life is not all sweetness and light. "GM's Biggest Fans and Toughest Critics", does anyone remember that?

Yeah, but you have an irrational hatred of America's newest car company..

Edited October 5, 2013 by Cubical-aka-Moltar

[ocnblu]

Maybe I'll drop the schtick for a while and let you all have your dream.

[FAPTurbo]

But the criticism's against Tesla and Fisker are nothing more than 'Hurr Durr Hurrlectric Currs are bad.'

[Intrepidation]

This thread is on fire!

[FAPTurbo]

WAY TOO MUCH EXCITEMENT!!!!!!!!!! FOR THE GAS TANKS TO HANDLE

[Drew Dowdell]

Threads like these remind me why I rarely post here.

Anyhow, my folks have had their Model S for two months and 3,000 miles now, and they're loving every minute of it.

It's the best car I've ever driven, period.

Yes, the IRRATIONAL hatred, fear mongering, and wishing for select Domestic automakers to die just because they are trying something different annoys me too... and I own the place.

[FAPTurbo]

Has there been any real criticism against electric cars on this website? I thought people here wanted energy diversity and the ability for 'Murica to not have to send any more oil money to Saudi madrassas.

If you hate electric cars, you hate America.

[ocnblu]

Exactly. I hate America. And you're looking down on us.

Yikes, how sad. A Solstice dies in an electrical fire.

I did criticize the Fisker for its home-built aura, in addition to its other failings.

Someone has to take up a contrary opinion on these, and voice it, otherwise it would become fanboi central in here.

I don't really care that much. I'm bored. I'm a car enthusiast of a certain mindset and I am not going to change my opinion on electrification. That being said, I do not have to come into every thread and say so.

This thread started out legitimately. It was not a made-up story... the fire, or the drop in stock price. dfelt took a pounding unnecessarily for SIMPLY POSTING IT. I will not apologize for sticking up for him. He linked it, he DIDN'T WRITE IT.

Edited October 5, 2013 by ocnblu

[Intrepidation]

Someone has to take up a contrary opinion on these, and voice it, otherwise it would become rational discussion central in here.

Having a difference of opinion and having an irrational hatred are two different things.

[Drew Dowdell]

Contrary opinions are fine. Don't like Tesla or Fisker all day all night... but don't pretend that a freak accident that causes a car fire is an event unique to Electric vehicles. There have been more CRV fires than there have been fires of all EV models combined.

It was a freak accident, nothing more. That piece of steel could have just as easily punctured a gas tank or CNG tank.

[Intrepidation]

Let's not forget that the fire was also contained to the punctured cell. Had a gas tank been punctured and caught fire the containment area would have been the entire car and the scorched ground around it.

[ocnblu]

So we've been told. Based on the photos of the burning car in question, one cell takes up the whole front end of the car, apparently.

People are going to question new technology. That is a fact of life. Those who blindly embrace it are just as wrong as those who question it.

In this thread, all I did was defend dfelt for the childish lambasting he was taking simply for linking to a legitimate news story that had a very real effect on Tesla as a company. The stock price could not have dropped the way it did if dfelt and myself were the only people who think the way we do. So cool your jets and deal with the circumstances outside of our C&G world.

Edited October 5, 2013 by ocnblu

[Intrepidation]

So we've been told. Based on the photos of the burning car in question, one cell takes up the whole front end of the car, apparently.

People are going to question new technology. That is a fact of life. Those who blindly embrace it are just as wrong as those who question it.

So the front end of that S is on fire, and is contained to the front of the car as can be seen in this photo of the fire being put out.

Note how aft of the A-pillar the car appears to be relatively undamaged.

Meanwhile that Solstice is engulfed in flames.

And wow, I had no idea an concept from 1888 was regarded as "new technology". Electricity and batteries are not a new concept. How do you think your car starts every day? I'll give you a hint, with a battery and electricity. What do you think powers all of your cars systems? Electricity! Whether it's powered purely by electricity, by gas, diesel, or clubbed seals, there's going to be a battery and electrical equipment in the vehicle.

Rational people understand that purely electric vehicles are just another way of turning the wheels, they are not perfect but form of propulsion is.

[ocnblu]

Now you're condescending in order to try to prop up Tesla, and that is not cool. And... REALLY? You honestly believe comparing the burning
Solstice to the burning Tesla is a valid comparison? How long has that Solstice been burning? How long has that Tesla been burning? I see no fire crew hovering around the Solstice. Stop the BS.

If I were building a house today, you can bet it would have solar panels. But a house is on a foundation, it is not given the task of traveling, at the owner's whim, on hundreds of millions of miles of freeways, country roads, dirt trails, or anywhere else it is pointed... which could be hundreds, or thousands, of miles away from a place to plug it in and replenish it. That is not what I call freedom, and it is perfectly rational to believe in the freedom of the internal combustion engine and the established infrastructure to sustain it.

Edited October 5, 2013 by ocnblu

[Drew Dowdell]

The infrastructure to charge these cars is being extended every day. In a year's time or less, your range and refill arguments will be rendered moot.

[Drew Dowdell]

In fact, I think we're already at the point where there is no place in the U.S. that is "tthousands" of miles from a recharge station.

[ocnblu]

Drew, seriously. One year's time or less? Do you have any idea how ridiculous that sounds?

[Drew Dowdell]

Nope. Tesla's charging station build out plan is out there for all the world to see. They've already got a good start in the northeast.

[ocnblu]

The Northeast and California is where people are going to be driving these cars... notice their roll-out schedules. They are not going to sell any number of these cars in other regions of the country where range is essential to practical operation.

[Intrepidation]

Now you're condescending in order to try to prop up Tesla, and that is not cool. And... REALLY? You honestly believe comparing the burning

Solstice to the burning Tesla is a valid comparison? How long has that Solstice been burning? How long has that Tesla been burning? I see no fire crew hovering around the Solstice. Stop the BS.

If I were building a house today, you can bet it would have solar panels. But a house is on a foundation, it is not given the task of traveling, at the owner's whim, on hundreds of millions of miles of freeways, country roads, dirt trails, or anywhere else it is pointed... which could be hundreds, or thousands, of miles away from a place to plug it in and replenish it. That is not what I call freedom, and it is perfectly rational to believe in the freedom of the internal combustion engine and the established infrastructure to sustain it.

Again, rational thought here. It's not propping up anything. One car caught fire due to a freak accident, it's not an epidemic. If it were multiple cars bursting into flames it'd be different. Also, firefighters don't teleport instantaneously to the fires. Going by that knowledge, it had obviously been on fire for several minutes before they arrived. Video footage of the car in flames showed the firefighters were only just getting the hoses out as the recorder drove off. That particular Solstice went from smoke to being burned to the ground in less than 10 minutes.

As far was "freedom" goes, yes currently its easier to go father with a petroleum powered vehicle, but as the infrastructure expands that will be pretty much moot. At the same time batteries are becoming ever more efficient and advanced and will allow the things they power to go longer and longer.

This is what edmunds reported on their 750 mile trip:

A couple of weekends ago my wife and I dashed out of town to watch the Grand Am races at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. And we drove up and back in our 2013 Tesla Model S, the only pure electric vehicle on the market that can make the 750-mile round trip in anything approaching a normal time scale.

Best part: Fuel for the trip cost us exactly zero dollars and zero cents.

Tesla Superchargers at Tejon Ranch and Atascadero got us up there, and the one in Buellton got us home. In between, overnight charges on our hotels' free Level 2 charger kept the Model S topped up for our daily runs to the track.

At the Supercharger, our dashboard told the tale. We'd travelled 162.2 miles and had 81 left in the tank, which works out to 243.2 total miles.

We plugged in and walked across the small parking lot to the Chipotle burrito place to get some food of our own. We could have eaten at the Panda Express next door or the Iron Skillet across the narrow side street.

Point is, it's easy to multitask while your unattended Tesla sits there and charges.

So they hopped out and got a bite to eat while it charged for 42 minutes. That's some range anxiety right there.

[ocnblu]

Not gonna be hungry every 250 miles tho. Need to make good time driving to Florida. Don't have time to google a charging station and take a detour for it. Rather stop at the rest and fuel stations along the way and not be a prisoner to my vehicle. My vehicle is a tool, not a master.

[Drew Dowdell]

And Chicago and DFW and Houston and Miami and even Pittsburgh and Columbus and Denver and boulder and Portland and Las Vegas and.....

Even Breezewood exit on the PA turnpike is getting a station...it seems to be under construction now. At least two Tpk rest stops have charging stations....

Most people don't use their cars for more than 200 miles without stopping... don't extrapolate your own driving patterns to everyone else.

Not gonna be hungry every 250 miles tho. Need to make good time driving to Florida. Don't have time to google a charging station and take a detour for it. Rather stop at the rest and fuel stations along the way and not be a prisoner to my vehicle. My vehicle is a tool, not a master.

The car had charging station listings built into the NAV. It finds them for you.

[ocnblu]

Ah... but those who DO want to drive like my example (or are employed by companies that demand they drive) are SOL with electrics. Their range has not expanded in 100 years. I stop at rest stops to pee. Takes 2 minutes.

Google, nav, same diff!

Edited October 5, 2013 by ocnblu

[ocnblu]

But now I have to hop in the shower and run over to my bro's house for his wife's b-day dinner, a short hop of ten miles or so. Good thing I have a 500 gallon tank of diesel here at home to fuel up my car. Have fun!

[Drew Dowdell]

THEN DONT BUY A TESLA! But don't piss on those that do! Jeeze! There are people who hate diesels too you know and yet I would agree that their dislike is just as irrational as yours.

I just did a 1400 mile trip in the CR-V and gosh, me, my back, my ears, and my wallet all wish it had been a Model S instead. And there are enough charging stations along the route that I could have done it with no trouble.

Ack! I accidentally deleted a post of yours ocn, not intentional, I'll see if I can get it back.

[ocnblu]

So, riding in a Tesla over 1400 miles is exactly like sitting in a warm bubblebath, with no stress whatsoever? Not that I'd want to do it in a CR-V of your vintage either... my Bug is pretty darn comfortable and quiet up to 100 mph (that's as fast as I've had it so far), and I can go 635 miles in my car before I have to stop for fuel.

[Intrepidation]

THEN DONT BUY A TESLA! But don't piss on those that do! Jeeze! There are people who hate diesels too you know and yet I would agree that their dislike is just as irrational as yours.

I just did a 1400 mile trip in the CR-V and gosh, me, my back, my ears, and my wallet all wish it had been a Model S instead. And there are enough charging stations along the route that I could have done it with no trouble.

Ack! I accidentally deleted a post of yours ocn, not intentional, I'll see if I can get it back.

I dunno, that one Model S caught fire, out of thousands that have been sold. With odds like that you would have had 100% chance of dying in a fireball.

[Intrepidation]

THEN DONT BUY A TESLA! But don't piss on those that do! Jeeze! There are people who hate diesels too you know and yet I would agree that their dislike is just as irrational as yours.

... don't extrapolate your own driving patterns to everyone else.

[ocnblu]

Whoa, OK Drew, I gotta go. You bois have your fun with your lozenge-shaped personal electrical devices.

[Intrepidation]

Oh well, they totally look the same!....? Remember that word irrational? Yeah, applies here too.