An investigation conducted by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has unveiled new details about a recent Tesla Semi fire that took place in California last month. The situation proved to be more severe than initially believed, as firefighters had to utilize a staggering 50,000 gallons of water to extinguish the blazing battery, which reached temperatures as high as 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit.

The intensity of the fire not only raises concerns about the safety of lithium-ion battery fires in electric vehicles but also highlights the challenges in developing a sustainable infrastructure for EV trucking. The Tesla Semi, operated by an employee of the automaker, crashed on August 19 at around 3 am. The vehicle veered off the freeway while navigating a curve, crashing into a tree and continuing down a slope until it came to a stop against more trees.

Fortunately, the driver managed to escape unharmed. However, the Tesla Semi's battery soon ignited, resulting in a fire that compelled emergency responders to close the freeway for 15 hours as they worked to extinguish it. In addition to the excessive amount of water – the equivalent of what an average American family of four consumes in approximately five months – firefighters also had to deploy fire retardant from an aircraft to tackle the inferno.

The cause of the battery's ignition remains unknown as the investigation by the NTSB continues. While there is no concrete evidence suggesting that lithium-ion batteries in Teslas and other EVs are more prone to fires than conventional vehicles, instances like this emphasize the unprecedented magnitude of the flames when they do occur.

Previously, firefighters have noted that combating EV fires requires significantly more water than regular car fires - an estimated forty times more, even with passenger cars. This particular incident underscored the intensity of a full-size Tesla Semi's battery fire, given its weight of approximately 11,000 pounds.

Concerningly, US firefighters are still lacking a standardized method to deal with EV fires. Currently, their primary approach is to douse the flames with water and wait for the fire to self-extinguish, a process that can last for hours. This prolonged period is due to the continuous release of oxygen from the burning batteries.

As the investigation into the Tesla Semi fire continues, it is vital for automakers and emergency responders to collaborate on developing more efficient and effective strategies for combating electric vehicle fires. The ongoing shift towards electric transportation necessitates addressing such challenges and prioritizing the safety of individuals and infrastructure in the process.