'don’t jerk around with electricity': tesla charging explosion in hope caught on video
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the explosion, which happened in august 2024, was captured in a dramatic video that shows the driver being thrown to the ground.
a tesla driver was injured in a violent arc flash explosion after attempting to charge his vehicle at a non-tesla station in hope, using a third-party adapter, according to a new report from technical safety b.c.
the explosion, which happened in august 2024, was captured in a dramatic video that shows the driver being thrown to the ground by the detonation, before his spouse quickly jumps out of the car to check on him.
the adapter, manufactured and sold by montreal-based a2z ev, was purchased two years before the incident and used approximately 50 times without issue. but it was not certified for use in canada, as the framework to get it certified had yet to be established.
an amended version of the technical safety report, dated oct. 9, pointed to a combination of errors. a short circuit in the charging station resulted in an “abnormal voltage” being sent through the charger adapter, which then “experienced an internal arc fault and explosion which damaged the adapter and vehicle.”
the explosion caused significant damage to the vehicle, the charging cable and internal components of the ev charger. it also destroyed the third-party adapter, which is needed for teslas to be charged at non-tesla public stations. the driver suffered scrapes and abrasions.
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amine zitour, the ceo of a2z, said his company was contacted by the owner on the day of the event, and worked in co-operation with technical safety and charging station company to identify the source of the problem.
he said his company’s internal investigation, which included data provided by the charging station company, showed there was a fault in the station’s battery stack. that usually triggers an automatic shutdown in most commercial charging stations. it didn’t in this case.
“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,” he said.
bob porter, of the vancouver electric vehicle association, says the incident underscores the real-world consequences of cutting corners on electrical safety. he said while many aftermarket options are available online, not all meet north american safety standards.
“there are risks with third-party things if they aren’t approved,” porter said. “they haven’t been tested for safety. you don’t jerk around with electricity.”
there is now an accepted us/canadian standard for ev charging adapters — ansi/can/ul 2252 — which was established by the society of automotive engineers on march 19, 2025. zitour says that four of his products, including two tesla compatible adapters, reach the canadian standard association standard and are extensively tested.
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porter, a tesla driver, says he avoids using adapters and sticks to certified tesla charging equipment.
“i’d rather pay a little bit more to only use stuff that is csa-approved in canada or certified by underwriters laboratories in the u.s. you’ve got to look for those approvals — only use equipment that’s certified by north american agencies.”
even if a product looks legitimate that doesn’t guarantee it’s safe.
“you can’t assume it’s the same factory making it and selling it under a different name. there’s a real risk.”
porter says this incident should be taken as a warning for anyone using uncertified electrical products.
zitour agrees.
“it has never been seen before in history, that normal people can have within their hands, 250 kilowatts and more,” he said. “i encourage people to only buy certified adapters, and to ensure there is a background behind the company. liability is important when you buy stuff from other platforms and you have no recourse against the seller if something happens.”
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