The Nexon EV uses LFP cells, which are more forgiving under thermal stress than NMC cells, although the exact cause of the fire is still unknown.
After videos of a Tata Nexon EV catching fire was shared widely on the internet, the automaker has responded saying it is conducting a detailed investigaton in the matter. The electric car caught fire reportedly in Vasai – a suburb of Mumbai – on June 22.
- Tata says first instance of a Nexon EV catching fire
- Exact cause of the fire is currently unknown
“A detailed investigation is currently being conducted to ascertain the facts of the recent isolated thermal incident that is doing the rounds on social media,” Tata Motors said. “We will share a detailed response after our complete investigation.”
The videos showed the Nexon EV parked on the side of the road, and a plume of smoke first coming from underneath the car where the batteries are located. Gradually, the entire vehicle was engulfed in flames, with occasional blasts coming from the battery.
The exact cause of the fire is currently unknown. The company added in its statement that this was the first such incident involving a Nexon EV, which has sold more than 30,000 units. These units have cumulatively covered more than a 100 million km across the country in nearly four years, according to Tata Motors.
EV fire incidents
EV fires are not particularly new as there already have been several such incidents with electric two-wheelers, raising safety concerns. This, however, is the first reported instance of a mainstream electric four-wheeler catching fire in India.
To note, the Tata Nexon EV uses lithium ferrous phosphate (LFP) cells, which is a more forgiving chemistry under thermal stress than nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) cells. Additionally, the Nexon EV’s cells are also cylindrical in structure, which again help in thermal management as compared to pouch cells. Thus, it will be interesting to see the results of the company’s investigation.
For an in-depth understanding of EV fires, click here.
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