The public spectacle created by the blazing Tesla on a busy Vancouver street prompted Transport Canada to conduct its own investigation, which just last week ruled out a battery in thermal runaway as the cause, according to local media.
Jutha’s vehicle has undergone two official inspections from Transport Canada and ICBC officials in June and August of 2022, where investigators deduced that the fire actually started closer to the body control module on the left side of the dashboard.
“It was confirmed that the fire does not relate to the high-voltage battery in the vehicle, ” said Transport Canada spokesperson Sau Sau Liu.
The investigation is very much still ongoing as Liu says they will now begin examining the vehicle’s data to determine the condition of the vehicle’s electronics leading up to the incident.
Jutha’s case also raised awareness about unique aspects of Tesla vehicle interiors and what drivers need to know in the event of an emergency.
At the time of the fire, Jutha said he was unaware his vehicle had a mechanical override for opening the doors in an emergency and was forced to kick out his windows in order to save his own life.
“What if I was an older person who couldn’t kick out the window?” he said. “It was terrifying.”
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