A dramatic incident unfolded as a Tesla driver was knocked to the ground by a sudden explosion while attempting to charge his car using an adapter. The shocking blast, captured on camera, showed a fireball erupting at the charging point in Hope, British Columbia. According to reports, the explosion was triggered by a malfunction in a non-Tesla A27 EV adapter, causing flames to engulf the charger and send thick smoke into the air before violently throwing the man to the ground.

The video footage depicts the driver stumbling and falling before eventually regaining his footing, with a passenger inside the vehicle rushing over to check on him. Fortunately, the victim sustained only minor scrapes, while his vehicle suffered burn marks as confirmed by Technical Safety BC.

The ill-fated adapter had been used approximately 50 times prior to the explosion. Multiple malfunctions occurred simultaneously, including a short circuit in the fast charger that resulted in an abnormal voltage surge through the device, leading to the catastrophic explosion witnessed in the video.

Experts have identified the malfunction as an “arc-flash,” which releases a burst of heat and light. Such incidents are often caused by plugging the device into a higher voltage, or due to moisture or damage to the insulation layer, as stated by the National Fire Protection Association.

Following the incident, the manufacturer A2Z EV initiated an investigation, determining that the malfunction originated from the charging station. A2Z EV clarified in their statement that there were no manufacturing or insulation defects found in the connected A2Z EV adapter. They attributed the damage to an external ground fault originating from the charger, where the adapter served as a secondary path for current once the charger’s internal fault energized the ground circuit.

Expressing their commitment to transparency, A2Z EV assured customers, partners, and regulators of their collaborative efforts to enhance the safety and reliability of the EV charging infrastructure. The company’s CEO emphasized their dedication to addressing any concerns and ensuring a secure environment for EV users, 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.”