NHTSA Investigation of Tesla

[Ted Swing]

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will be investigating the Tesla Model S battery fires. Apparently this is actually being done at Tesla's request to counter the perception that electric vehicles are more dangerous.

 

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/20/business/us-safety-agency-opens-inquiry-into-tesla-fires.html

[trvlrschick]

I've been reading Elon Musk's tweets, and he's pretty annoyed by the hoopla. He made a good point - that there's thousands (more than a hundred thousand?) of gas car fires a year, resulting in hundreds of deaths, yet THREE Tesla fires that resulted in NO deaths are huge news.

[B25Nut]

"Apparently this is actually being done at Tesla's request"

Unfortunately, this doesn't appear to be true:

 

http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1088588_tesla-fires-nhtsa-will-probe-warranty-to-cover-fire-damage-ride-height-tweak

[Ted Swing]

"Apparently this is actually being done at Tesla's request"

Unfortunately, this doesn't appear to be true:

 

http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1088588_tesla-fires-nhtsa-will-probe-warranty-to-cover-fire-damage-ride-height-tweak

I stand corrected. That part hadn't been reported when I first read it. I do agree with trvlschick that the reaction seems out of proportion, though I admit I'm curious about what they will find.

 

I don't own a Tesla so it doesn't affect me directly, but I do worry that bad press for Tesla hurts public perceptions of all alternative fuel vehicles (including the FFH).

Edited November 20, 2013 by Ted Swing

[hybridbear]

Tesla has bent the truth in the past in their press releases. Perhaps Elon Musk "planned" to contact the NHTSA and then published a press release as if it had already happened when it was really just a plan.

 

Or the NHTSA is trying to protect themselves from something.

[acdii]

Given the fact that car dealerships are out for blood with Tesla, this doesn't surprise me. Tesla is trying to change how cars are sold, and dealers are not liking it, so anything at all that can make Tesla look bad of course will be pounced on.

[LASooner]

Why does this thread conjure up board room scenes from the movie Tucker in my head?

[acdii]

Why does this thread conjure up board room scenes from the movie Tucker in my head?

Maybe cause you watch too many movies? I know what you mean though, sometimes I can read or see something and flashback to something I saw in a movie.