Crews battle Tesla battery fire at Moorabool, near Geelong

From ABC news

A toxic blaze at the site of Australia’s largest Tesla battery project is set to burn throughout the night.

Key points:

  • A 13-tonne Tesla lithium battery is on fire near Geelong
  • The battery was expected to be ready later this year
  • It was due to be the biggest battery in the southern hemisphere

The fire broke out during testing of a Tesla megapack at the Victorian Big Battery site near Geelong.

A 13-tonne lithium battery was engulfed in flames, which then spread to an adjacent battery bank.

More than 150 people from Fire Rescue Victoria and the Country Fire Authority responded to the blaze, which has been contained and will be closely monitored until it burns itself out.

“If we try and cool them down it just prolongs the process,” the CFA’s Assistant Chief Fire Officer Ian Beswicke said.

“But we could be here anywhere from 8 to 24 hours while we wait for it to burn down.”

The Tesla battery is expected to become the largest battery in the southern hemisphere as part of a Victorian Government push to transition to renewable energy.

Full story here.

HT/Roger

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krov
July 31, 2021 7:29 am

In order to avoid battery ‘accidents’ Tesla will automatically restrict rapid charging limits. This affects anyone planning a long trip.

MarkW
Reply to  krov
July 31, 2021 10:42 am

The rapid charging feature has been a major selling point, at least that’s the impression I get from the various Tesla enthusiasts that post here.

July 31, 2021 8:33 am

“But we could be here anywhere from 8 to 24 hours while we wait for it to burn down.”

Try 8-24 days.

Jim Whelan
July 31, 2021 8:42 am

The Tesla battery is expected to become

Shouldn’t that be “was expected?”

Tom Abbott
Reply to  Jim Whelan
July 31, 2021 1:02 pm

I think the part that is burning is only part of the battery. The rest of it hasn’t caught fire yet.

RichDo
July 31, 2021 10:34 am

Interesting read if your curious about the combustion products. Probably best to stay upwind.
Toxic fluoride gas emissions from lithium-ion battery fires
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-017-09784-z/

Ebor
Reply to  RichDo
July 31, 2021 7:08 pm

Oh no, Mr. Bill!!!

goldminor
July 31, 2021 1:02 pm

I like watching some of those You Tube car crash videos. They give an interesting look at human behavior. Imagine what those videos will look like when there are tens of millions of EVs on the roads.

rickk
July 31, 2021 1:54 pm

So when I get one for my home, I need to install it 2 acres back from my house as prep for the inevitable fire?

Peter D
July 31, 2021 3:09 pm

Still burning 7.38 am on 1st August, two days later. Still toxic smoke warning. Nothing on the news services.

Patrick MJD
Reply to  Peter D
July 31, 2021 6:51 pm

Yeah, the media, especially here in NSW, are more concerned with being advised by two lawyers, Chant and Hazzard, about health issues regarding the COVID-19 “pandemic”.

Drake
Reply to  Peter D
July 31, 2021 7:16 pm

Searches in the US show the MSM including CNN, ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, NY Times, WaPo, etc. not covering this. LA Weekly Times, Reuters, cnbc, Wall street Journal, Breitbart, etc. yes.

Tom Abbott
Reply to  Drake
August 1, 2021 6:00 am

Marx thought control of mass communications was one of the keys for Marxism gaining control of the people.

We have a perfect test of that theory in the Western Democracies today.

Can the people figure out the truth when 90 percent of the news media is lying to them 24-hours a day? That is the question.

observa
Reply to  Peter D
August 2, 2021 2:23 am

Almost under control after 3 days and apparently it’s a world first for lithium big batteries for the grid-
Tesla big battery fire in Victoria almost under control after more than three days (msn.com)
Not that there’s many of them up and running so investors will no doubt want to know the reason/s for it.

John Sandhofner
July 31, 2021 9:49 pm

Fools. What arrogance.

spock
August 1, 2021 8:44 pm

Oops…

Hans
Reply to  spock
August 3, 2021 2:43 am

My proctologist wants to know if Tesla have tailpipes?