Tesla Inc will update its battery software after two recent fires involving it’s Model S electric vehicles (EV) in Shanghai and Hong Kong, the U.S. automaker said on Thursday, adding that investigations into the incidents are ongoing. “As we continue our investigation of the root cause, out of an abundance of caution, we are revising charge and thermal management settings on Model S and Model X vehicles via an over-the-air software update that will begin rolling out today, to help further protect the battery and improve battery longevity,” Tesla said in a statement.
On Tuesday, Hong Kong’s Apple Daily newspaper reported that a Tesla car caught fire in a shopping mall parking lot 30 minutes after being parked. Tesla said its investigation with authorities into that incident so far found only a few of the car’s battery modules affected and that the majority of the battery pack was undamaged. The Hong Kong incident came three weeks after Tesla said it had sent a team to investigate a video on Chinese social media that showed a parked Tesla Model S car exploding in the commercial hub of Shanghai. There have been at least 14 instances of Tesla cars catching fire since 2013, most of them following a crash.
Tesla has been one of the leading manufacturers of electric vehicles. Its current portfolio includes Model 3, Model S, Model X and the recently introduced Model Y. All of Tesla’s models lead the charge when it comes to offering futuristic features along with real-world practicality. However, the automaker has been in the news over one thing or the other since its inception. There have been rumours of the brand making its way to India. However, so far there has been no official confirmation regarding the same. Elon Musk has however hinted on several occasions his interest in launching the brand in our country.
