A Tesla driver experienced a frightening incident when an explosion occurred while attempting to charge his car using an adapter. The dramatic explosion was captured on camera in Hope, British Columbia, showing a fireball erupting at the charging point. The device in question, a non-Tesla A27 EV adapter, malfunctioned, leading to a significant explosion. The video footage depicts the man standing near the car as flames engulf the charger, generating plumes of smoke before he is forcefully thrown to the ground by the explosion.
The driver is seen stumbling and falling before managing to stand up, with a passenger from the vehicle rushing over to check on him. Fortunately, the victim only sustained minor scrapes, while the vehicle suffered burn marks, as confirmed by Technical Safety BC.
The adapter had been utilized approximately 50 times before the explosion occurred. Several malfunctions coincided, including a short circuit in the fast charger that resulted in an abnormal voltage passing through the device, leading to the explosion witnessed in the footage.
Experts describe the malfunction as an “arc-flash,” releasing a burst of heat and light. According to the National Fire Protection Association, such incidents are often caused by plugging the device into a higher voltage, or due to moisture or damage to the insulation layer.
Following the incident, the manufacturer A2Z EV initiated an investigation, determining that the charging station was the source of the malfunction. The company’s inspection revealed no manufacturing or insulation defects in the connected A2Z EV adapter. A2Z EV stated that the damage observed was in line with exposure to an external ground fault originating from the charger, with the adapter becoming a secondary path for current after the charger’s internal fault energized the ground circuit.
A2Z emphasized their commitment to transparency with customers, partners, and regulators as they collaborate to enhance the safety of the EV charging infrastructure. The company’s CEO conveyed concern over the incident, stating, “It’s not something that we wanted to see happen, especially not with our adapter or with any adapter on the market, because this creates fear with EVs.”