Australian electric car owners have been reminded of the dangers posed by lithium batteries following an accident in which a woman was trapped in her Tesla.
Emergency services were called to Chapel Lane in Crestwood, in Sydney’s northwest, following reports of a multi-vehicle crash on Tuesday.
Shocking photos shared on Hills Police Area Command’s Facebook page showed how the white Tesla had mounted on the bonnet of a parked blue Holden.
The force of the crash had pushed the Holden into a third car, a black Mercedes, with the Tesla’s left-side wheels resting on the parked car.
Emergency services worked to free the driver of the Tesla, a 48-year-old woman, who was not injured in the accident.
“Unfortunately, recovery operations for electric vehicles take a long time due to the risk of fire from the batteries,” police said.
Lithium-ion batteries are found in electric vehicles, electric scooters, and electric bicycles.
Batteries are susceptible to uncontrolled thermal runaway events, which occur when the temperature of the battery increases faster than the energy dispersed to its surroundings.
The white Tesla mounted the hood of a parked blue Holden in the accident (pictured)
The force of the crash rammed the Holden into a third car – a black Mercedes (pictured)
The high temperature causes the battery to break down, generating more heat and ultimately causing a flammable gas explosion.
While lithium-ion batteries rarely catch fire, they can be extremely dangerous when ignited.
The EV Fire Safe website explained that batteries release toxic and flammable gases when they catch fire, which can cause them to explode.
Toxic fumes can also cause breathing difficulties, making it difficult for emergency crews to put out the fire.
It comes after firefighters recorded a series of fires in recent months caused by lithium-ion batteries.
Fires involving lithium-ion batteries are the fastest growing type of fire in New South Wales, with one every four days this year, according to state government data.
Police decided to take no further action following investigations into the accident.
Emergency services launched lengthy recovery operation to free Tesla driver