EV Charger Adapter Explodes Shortly After Tesla is Plugged In | Carscoops

      Fortunately, the owner sustained no severe injuries, but the charging adapter was destroyed.

      9 hours ago

      by Stephen Rivers

      A Tesla driver was injured due to an explosion while charging in Hope, B.C.

      An unapproved A2Z EV adapter experienced an internal arc fault failure.

      Authorities are cautioning against the use of uncertified charging equipment following this hazardous incident.

      Electric vehicles are often surrounded by negative myths, many of which contain a grain of truth. While there are inherent risks associated with charging, such occurrences are quite rare.

      More: A Study Finds More Public Charging Stations Than Ever, Yet It's Still Insufficient

      Occasionally, one of these rare incidents occurs, as happened in Canada, where a charging adapter was ruined by a short circuit, and the event was recorded on video.

      A Tesla driver was attempting to charge at a non-Tesla commercial charging station in British Columbia, using an A2Z adapter that allowed the charger to connect to the vehicle.

      What Actually Happened?

      Upon connecting the charger with the adapter to the Tesla, an arc flash explosion occurred. Luckily, the driver was a few feet away from the connection during the explosion.

      While he suffered minor scrapes and abrasions, he avoided serious injury, and his spouse, who was in the front passenger seat, remained unharmed. An investigation into the situation revealed that both the adapter and the charger had defects that contributed to the explosion.

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      The adapter was not certified for use in Canada since the applicable standards had not been established when it was sold. Additionally, the charger delivered “abnormal voltage” to the adapter, leading to the arc explosion that shattered the adapter into several pieces.

      Lessons From a Flash

      Bob Porter from the Vancouver Electric Vehicle Association stated to the Vancouver Sun, “There are risks with third-party products if they aren’t approved. They haven’t been tested for safety. You shouldn’t take chances with electricity.”

      The Tesla owner noted that he had used the same setup for two years without problems, serving as a reminder that even seemingly reliable equipment can fail unexpectedly if it has not been certified or tested according to appropriate standards.

      While this is not a widespread concern across the industry, it serves as an important reminder that when things do go awry, they can escalate quickly.

      Photos Technical Safety BC