A Tesla driver was knocked to the ground during a frightening explosion while attempting to charge his car using an adapter.
The explosive incident was captured on camera, showing a fireball erupting at the charging station in Hope, British Columbia. According to reports, the non-Tesla A27 EV adapter malfunctioned, leading to a powerful explosion. The man was standing next to the vehicle as flames engulfed the charger, emitting thick plumes of smoke before he was forcefully thrown to the ground.
After stumbling and falling, the driver eventually managed to regain his footing. A passenger who was inside the car at the time rushed over to check on him.
The victim sustained minor scrapes, while the vehicle displayed burn marks, as confirmed by Technical Safety BC.
The adapter had been used approximately 50 times before the explosion occurred. It appears that multiple malfunctions coincided, including a short circuit in the fast charger that resulted in an abnormal voltage surge through the device, leading to the explosion captured in the footage.
Described by experts as an “arc-flash,” this type of malfunction releases a burst of heat and light. The National Fire Protection Association pointed out that such incidents often occur due to plugging the device into a higher voltage, or if there is moisture or damage to the insulation layer.
The manufacturer, A2Z EV, initiated an investigation, determining that the malfunction originated at the charging station. The company stated that no manufacturing or insulation defects were found in the connected A2Z EV adapter during the inspection.
A2Z EV stated, “The damage observed was consistent with exposure to an external ground fault originating from the charger. The adapter acted as a secondary path for current once the charger’s internal fault energized the ground circuit.”
The company emphasized its commitment to transparency with customers, partners, and regulators in enhancing the safety of the EV charging infrastructure.
The CEO of A2Z EV expressed regret over the incident, stating, “It’s not something that we wanted to see happen, especially not with our adapter or any adapter on the market, because this creates fear with EVs.”