A Tesla Model S owner in Mexico attempted an illegal and dangerous method of charging their electric vehicle, with disastrous consequences.
It is reported by Mexico News Daily that in Tijuana, Mexico, a Tesla Model S driver tried to charge their car by tapping into the city’s electrical wiring, resulting in a fire that spread to a nearby house.
This practice of stealing electricity is, unfortunately, common in Mexico, with the national electricity company losing around $2 billion annually due to these illegal connections. Most often, these connections are made at construction sites, and as this incident demonstrates, they pose a significant risk of fire and electrical hazards.
According to AP News, the Tesla Model S owner, who was a tourist from the US, for reasons unknown, chose to use this illegal charging method instead of utilizing the many public charging stations available in Tijuana. The resulting fire caused extensive damage to the vehicle and the nearby house, which was fortunately unoccupied at the time.
ABC News reported that the Tijuana Fire Department swiftly responded to the incident, with firefighter Arturo Sánchez noting that while this was their first encounter with a burning Tesla, they are trained to handle electric vehicle fires. The extent of the damage to the Tesla Model S is not yet known, but based on the images from the scene, it appears to be significant.
TT (Tuoitrethudo)