A Jaguar I-PACE electric sports utility vehicle spontaneously combusted while parked in a Dutch driveway last week.
The cause of the fire in the vehicle’s fireplace remains unclear, prompting the manufacturer to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident.
The incident took place on the outskirts of Rumpt, situated near Geldermalsen in the Netherlands, as the sun set on the Friday evening.
The origin of the fire damage at this stage remains unclear, but Jaguar, a prominent British automaker, has reportedly acquired the charred I-PACE vehicle and is collaborating with local authorities to determine the cause.
The primary reported incident involving a Jaguar I-PACE in flames appears to have affected only the front end of the electric SUV, according to footage provided by Autobahn.
Despite recent high-profile incidents of Tesla car fires, concerns have arisen about electric vehicles being more prone to combustion than their gasoline-powered counterparts; however, this assumption has yet to be substantiated by statistical evidence.
According to Tesla, their electric cars are statistically 10 times less likely to ignite in a fire compared to their gasoline-powered counterparts.
Jaguar has reportedly delivered under 5,000 I-PACE SUVs so far, with only one instance documented where a vehicle caught fire.
Electrek’s Take
Unrelated fires in vehicles are often unforeseen and alarming, regardless of whether they’re powered by electricity or gasoline, as they occur without any prior warning or trigger.
In situations where emotions are running high, it’s crucially important to identify and address the underlying trigger.
Last year, a Tesla Model S battery pack mysteriously ignited in Los Angeles without any incident or accident, prompting the company to describe this event as “extremely rare.” They’re nonetheless investigating the trigger.
Within the incident involving the Jaguar I-PACE electric vehicle, the car was found in a driveway, with its charging status at the time still unclear.
While the authorities won’t entirely rule out vandalism as a possibility at this stage, it’s crucial to consider that the problem might not necessarily be related to the powertrain, making further investigation worthwhile.
