BLAZE FEARS
Urgent warning over popular electric car after it suddenly ‘self-combusted’ sending roaring flames into the air
AN urgent warning has been given to drivers of a popular electric vehicle after it is thought to have “self-combusted,” sending flames into the air.
Eugenio Mereu, 36, watched the electric car blazing and billowing black smoke on the side of the street this morning, leaving him fearful the same could happen to his identical vehicle.
The London resident claimed the blazing car is a Tesla Model Y, which reportedly have a starting price of around £44,990.
The cause of the fire has not yet been established and the car may have been stolen, according to cops.
Mr Mereu said the fire was so strong he could hear it crackling from his house before he captured it on camera at 9.26am.
He added he couldn’t see anything that may have caused the fire, leaving him fearful that his Tesla could meet the same fate.
Mr Mereu’s car incidentally matches the one that now sits burnt out on the street, it is reportedly the “same car, same colour, same year.”
Police and three fire engines reportedly attended the scene on residential Perth Road, Ilford, North London.
It is not the first time a Tesla has “self-combusted”.
In January this year, it took 22,000 litres of water to put out a similarly spontaneous fire on a Model S sports car in Sacramento, California.
Mr Mereu said: “There was a bit of a commotion and I went outside and it had caught on fire, completely. It looks like it’s self-combusted, it literally started a fire on its own.
“It hadn’t been caused in a crash, it wasn’t particularly hot, there wasn’t anyone near it, it just self-combusted, catching fire as if there was some sort of malfunction.
“It’s scary because I’ve actually got the exact same car, it’s slightly concerning that it could just catch fire, and a really strong fire.
“I heard one person screaming and then you could actually hear the fire, making the crackling noise.
“Imagine, I’ve got the same car, same colour, same year, everything brand new. I was like oh my God that’s concerning.
“Imagine the owner not knowing, obviously they parked it overnight.
“I think as well there’s some sort of safety feature on the vehicle where the bonnet opens automatically as a safety precaution in case anyone’s trapped inside.
“Even more fire engines started coming, more police afterwards as well.
“Then they started tell people to go back indoors and move us on, to not cause a commotion or make it worse.”
A spokesperson for the Met Police said: “At 07.36hrs on Sunday, 16 July, police received a report of a stolen car in the Ilford area.
“A short time later, the vehicle was found in Perth Road, Ilford.
“The occupants of the vehicle had left on foot and the car was on fire.
“London Fire Brigade were called to the scene and extinguished the fire. There were no reported injuries.
“Enquiries are ongoing. There have been no arrests.”
