Audi’s first electric car – the eTron – has been recalled over a defect with the battery that could lead to a roadside barbecue – with you inside.
As reported by Bloomberg, the automaker is concerned moisture could enter the battery compartment through a faulty seal, potentially leading to a short circuit or even a serious fire. Audi calls the latter scenario an “extreme case.” Lithium-ion battery cells are highly volatile if breached by air or moisture; the resulting fire, as seen in several recent Tesla Model S incidents, can erupt quickly and prove very difficult to extinguish.
Interestingly, this isn’t a “defect” in the usually understood sense. It’s just how electric car batteries are.
In total, 1,644 E-Trons are under recall for the issue. Through the end of May, Audi sold 1,109 of the EVs in the U.S., with the model going on sale in April.
While no fires or injuries have been reported as a result of the flaw, Audi claims five instances of battery fault lights turning on because of moisture seepage. The company began informing owners last week, with a fix available starting in August, Audi claims.
“We are applying an abundance of caution as no such incidents have been reported globally,” the company said in a statement, referring to fires.
Not all of the Brussels-built E-Trons assembled thus far contain the flaw, apparently. The automaker claims the model remains available, and it doesn’t appear that there is a stop sale order in place for the vehicle.
As they await a fix, affected owners are being told they’re eligible for an $800 cash card to cover gas purchases, rentals, and other costs stemming from the recall. Free roadside towing has been extended to these owners, too.
As for Tesla, the automaker continues investigating the cause of a rash of car fires spanning the globe. Following the most recent fire in Antwerp, Belgium, the company issued an over-the-air update to the charge and thermal management settings on Model S and Model X vehicles.
Hot zig. We’re all fired up!
In 1984 a dozen or so Pontiac Fiero engines were catching fire. Pontiac was browbeaten and virtually crucified for it, but I recall NO fatalities other than the cars themselves. One guy in Richmond turned his into a backyard Barbecue Pit. Telsas appear to burn their owners alive, thus saving them trouble.
Eric,
“Mobile crematorium” and “roadside BBQ”…
you are a damn comedic genius.
I suspect Tesla Corp’s strategy on the matter is apparently going to be to do nothing meaningful until some court, somewhere, holds Tesla accountable for its negligence regarding defects and injury/death. Having the manufacturer in charge of their own investigation and corrective procedures may sound like them taking responsibility on their own initiative, but is also akin to giving the job of hen-house security to the foxes. Tesla’s public response is reminiscent of a 1997 press release where Al “Gore denies accusations of wrongdoing, and promises never to do that again!” Why am I not reassured of anything beyond more tom-foolery and lies?