A Tesla electric semi-truck crashed on Interstate 80 in California on August 19, 2023, near Emigrant Gap, around 70 miles northeast of Sacramento.

The truck, driven by a Tesla employee en route from Livermore to a facility in Sparks, Nevada, left the road, struck a tree, and rolled down a slope, but the driver was unharmed.

Following the accident, the truck's lithium-ion battery ignited, prompting firefighters to use over 190,000 liters of water to extinguish the flames and cool the batteries.

The fire reached temperatures as high as 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit, leading to a 14-hour closure of the highway.

Firefighters worked for approximately 15 hours to ensure the battery cooled down sufficiently before the freeway could be reopened.

While Tesla has not disclosed the exact capacity of the Semi's battery, it is estimated to be around 900 kWh based on its range and efficiency.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating the crash and will issue safety recommendations to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Previous NTSB investigations have highlighted the risks posed by high-voltage electric vehicle battery fires to first responders and called for better manufacturer guidelines.

After extinguishing the fire, the wrecked Tesla was monitored for 24 hours at an open-air facility to prevent potential re-ignition of its lithium-ion batteries.

In addition to water, firefighters deployed an aircraft to drop fire retardant in the vicinity to prevent the fire from spreading to nearby forests.

Tesla has been contacted for comments regarding the incident, but no response has been received yet.

The NTSB is examining fire risks associated with the truck's large lithium-ion battery as part of its ongoing investigation.