6 ms·

I would expect more of these stories as more of these cars are purchased and on the road. Three fires in six weeks and all three related to accidents. But since

by talmand 13y ago

I would expect more of these stories as more of these cars are purchased and on the road. Three fires in six weeks and all three related to accidents. But since it's the new fancy all-electric cars then it's prime for sensational headlines or at least just heavier than usual coverage. Take a Tesla to an empty field, pour gasoline all over it, apply flame, watch headlines of "yet another Tesla catches fire" to appear.

tankenmate 13y ago
I agree this is largely sensationalist / novel news reporting driving this (no pun intended). What I would like to see is an attempt to report the rate of fires / driven miles for both electric and more conventionally power cars; of course taking into account factors like the power / performance of the cars, relative age of the vehicles etc.
danielweber 13y ago
"Dateline" is still on the air, right? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_C/K#Sidesaddle_fuel_tank_controversy http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_C/K#Sidesaddle_fuel_t...
IanDrake 13y ago
>Take a Tesla to an empty field, pour gasoline all over it, apply flame... You forgot step 1 - Short TSLA
- ye 13y ago
  You would need to short an insane amount of stock for that to be profitable.
  - rdl 13y ago
    Options. Also there's potentially SEC stuff which happens to you if you do this, although it's less clear if you're not a professional or licensed, and don't solicit others.
    - maxerickson 13y ago
      And then there is the whole thing where if you are trying to manipulate the stock you maybe don't care who the car belongs to.
  - IanDrake 13y ago
    Yes, as rdl said, buy out of the money PUTS. You'll 5-10x your money. There are multiple ways to take a short position ;) Anyway, this was in jest. But I also wanted to bring attention to the fact that TSLA is in unique position to be sabotaged for gain, more so than just about any other public company.
nawitus 13y ago
Model S fires could be compared to Nissan Leaf fires, as they're both electric cars. Although Leaf is sold massively more than the Model S (Leaf is the most produced electric car in history).
- johnnymonster 13y ago
  Where are you getting your numbers from? The volt sold more than the leaf in 2012 by almost double. At best the leaf sells about 1500 a month. The model S is well over 3k a month as well. so I would like to see your sources on the matter.
  - cjg_ 13y ago
    Tesla sold 5.5k cars the last quarter. That's not 3k/month. (http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/americas/united-states/131106/tesla-shares-model-s-electric-car-sales http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/americas/uni...) The leaf sold 6375 during the same period (us only). I think Teslas number was global sales. But still Leaf out sold teslas the last quarter in the US. http://www.hybridcars.com/eight-us-sales-records-in-eight-months-for-nissan-leaf/ http://www.hybridcars.com/eight-us-sales-records-in-eight-mo... Where did you get your numbers from?
    - johnnymonster 13y ago
      First, 5500 is the total cars delivered not sold. looking for my source on total cars sold that quarter.
  - nawitus 13y ago
    Wikipedia[1]. I meant an all-electric car. Chevrolet Volt is a hybrid car. Model S only has about 20k sales. 1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_best-selling_automobiles#Class_bestsellers http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_best-selling_automobile... 2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tesla_Model_S http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tesla_Model_S
rgbrenner 13y ago
"Three fires in six weeks and all three related to accidents." This fire is related to an accident? Can you help me out, and tell me which of the 21 pages I can skip to to read that part. I've clicked on most of the pages, and I just see speculation that goes back in forth about whether there was an accident or not, based on a handful of pics someone posted.
- dangrossman 13y ago
  > The company said the fire was the result of an accident and was not a spontaneous event. http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/11/07/autos-tesla-fire-idUSL2N0IS0TL20131107 http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/11/07/autos-tesla-fire-i...
  - rgbrenner 13y ago
    But that seems to be based on this: "It's possible that it ran over a piece of metal in the roadway and it got up in the engine compartment," police dispatcher Kathy Bryant said. Apparently speculation by a police dispatcher now counts as confirmed facts.
    - deleted 13y ago
      [deleted]
      - ericcumbee 13y ago
        It's interesting that people on HN seem to take whatever Tesla says as the gospel truth. Where as if it had been an established manufacturer (IE runaway toyotas) there would be at least some skepticism until there was at least some objective and trusted third party analysis and reporting.
        deleted 13y ago
        [deleted]
        13y ago

by talmand 13y ago

tankenmate 13y ago

I agree this is largely sensationalist / novel news reporting driving this (no pun intended). What I would like to see is an attempt to report the rate of fires / driven miles for both electric and more conventionally power cars; of course taking into account factors like the power / performance of the cars, relative age of the vehicles etc.

danielweber 13y ago

"Dateline" is still on the air, right? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_C/K#Sidesaddle_fuel_tank_controversy http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_C/K#Sidesaddle_fuel_t...

IanDrake 13y ago

>Take a Tesla to an empty field, pour gasoline all over it, apply flame... You forgot step 1 - Short TSLA

ye 13y ago
You would need to short an insane amount of stock for that to be profitable.
- rdl 13y ago
  Options. Also there's potentially SEC stuff which happens to you if you do this, although it's less clear if you're not a professional or licensed, and don't solicit others.
  - maxerickson 13y ago
    And then there is the whole thing where if you are trying to manipulate the stock you maybe don't care who the car belongs to.
- IanDrake 13y ago
  Yes, as rdl said, buy out of the money PUTS. You'll 5-10x your money. There are multiple ways to take a short position ;) Anyway, this was in jest. But I also wanted to bring attention to the fact that TSLA is in unique position to be sabotaged for gain, more so than just about any other public company.

nawitus 13y ago

Model S fires could be compared to Nissan Leaf fires, as they're both electric cars. Although Leaf is sold massively more than the Model S (Leaf is the most produced electric car in history).

johnnymonster 13y ago
Where are you getting your numbers from? The volt sold more than the leaf in 2012 by almost double. At best the leaf sells about 1500 a month. The model S is well over 3k a month as well. so I would like to see your sources on the matter.
- cjg_ 13y ago
  Tesla sold 5.5k cars the last quarter. That's not 3k/month. (http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/americas/united-states/131106/tesla-shares-model-s-electric-car-sales http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/americas/uni...) The leaf sold 6375 during the same period (us only). I think Teslas number was global sales. But still Leaf out sold teslas the last quarter in the US. http://www.hybridcars.com/eight-us-sales-records-in-eight-months-for-nissan-leaf/ http://www.hybridcars.com/eight-us-sales-records-in-eight-mo... Where did you get your numbers from?
  - johnnymonster 13y ago
    First, 5500 is the total cars delivered not sold. looking for my source on total cars sold that quarter.
- nawitus 13y ago
  Wikipedia[1]. I meant an all-electric car. Chevrolet Volt is a hybrid car. Model S only has about 20k sales. 1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_best-selling_automobiles#Class_bestsellers http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_best-selling_automobile... 2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tesla_Model_S http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tesla_Model_S

rgbrenner 13y ago

"Three fires in six weeks and all three related to accidents." This fire is related to an accident? Can you help me out, and tell me which of the 21 pages I can skip to to read that part. I've clicked on most of the pages, and I just see speculation that goes back in forth about whether there was an accident or not, based on a handful of pics someone posted.

dangrossman 13y ago
> The company said the fire was the result of an accident and was not a spontaneous event. http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/11/07/autos-tesla-fire-idUSL2N0IS0TL20131107 http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/11/07/autos-tesla-fire-i...
- rgbrenner 13y ago
  But that seems to be based on this: "It's possible that it ran over a piece of metal in the roadway and it got up in the engine compartment," police dispatcher Kathy Bryant said. Apparently speculation by a police dispatcher now counts as confirmed facts.
  - deleted 13y ago
    [deleted]
    - ericcumbee 13y ago
      It's interesting that people on HN seem to take whatever Tesla says as the gospel truth. Where as if it had been an established manufacturer (IE runaway toyotas) there would be at least some skepticism until there was at least some objective and trusted third party analysis and reporting.
      - deleted 13y ago
        [deleted]
        13y ago