Have you seen smoke coming from your Tesla while charging at home or a supercharging station? However, not all smoke is a red flag, and if you’ve ever had an electric vehicle, you’ll know that a little smoke is common when charging EVs.
Quick Glance:
- As of 2023, Tesla owns approximately 40,000 of Supercharging Global Network.
- These are fast-charging units that can charge the EV within 15 minutes.All Tesla Models come with pre-conditioned high-voltage battery packs for Supercharging.
- People may witness a “smoke” effect while charging their Tesla at charging stations.
- It is not actual “smoke,” but more like steam or vapor produced by water meeting the batteries when fully charged.
Continue reading to find out which “smoke emission” is normal and which might be concerning. This post will also show you what to do if your Tesla starts smoking while charging_
The Truth Behind “Tesla Smoking While Charging”
If you ever notice white smoke coming from your Tesla while you’ve plugged the car into its charging station and it is charging, do not panic!
Yes, that’s the first thing most people do without analyzing the situation.
“There are even incidents where people called emergency fire services because they mistook the normal “steam” effect during charging for actual fire smoke. So, when the crew investigated with a Thermal Imaging Camera, they ensured it was harmless.“
Why Is Tesla Smoking While Charging?
In most cases, people get panicked over nothing because a small amount of “White Smoke” is very normal for such kind electric cars during the charging. It is especially natural during extreme cold or freezing snowy weather.
This small amount of “White Smoke” is also referred to as “Steam.” According to Tesla, it is part of the Supercharging process.
Tesla representative says these electric cars can release smoke while charging due to internal chemical breakdown. Now you might be wondering what causes this breakdown!
According to Tesla representatives, it’s normal that the battery heats up when the charging process starts, and the heat breaks down the chemicals. As a result, your car releases evaporating moisture in the form of smoke or steam.
For more in-depth understanding, watch the explanation made of the whole process by the expert here, where they also address what action should one take as an emergency response:
What Causes Tesla Smoking While Charging?
Here are the five most common reasons that may cause your Tesla to release smoke while it is still charging:
1. Battery Overheating:
If your Tesla’s battery is overheating while the car is charging, that can be a prominent cause of “excess smoke emission“.
Since Tesla electric cars are equipped with advanced lithium-ion battery packs and these battery packs often work close to their thermal limit, this action can generate a significant amount of heat during the charging process.
The accumulated heat within the battery pack leads to thermal runaway or rapid heat generation to cause smoke emissions.
This commotion can arise due to extended fast charging, a malfunctioning cooling system that is failing to cool down the heat, or extreme weather temperatures.
2. Faulty Charging Equipment:
Even though it happens rarely, defective or malfunctioning charging equipment can also cause such smoke emissions. It can occur due to a defective charging cable, incompatible adapter, poor electrical connections, damaged insulation, or faulty circuitry.
That faulty charging equipment will lead to overheating or arcing, which will eventually cause smoke production. Even the charging station that you are using itself can malfunction to cause the emission of smoke.
The chances are high especially when you’re using third-party stations for charging instead of Tesla-authorized charging stations.
3. External Damage or Physical Impact:
Remember that if your car has previously encountered any minor accidents or crashes that left any physical damage to its body or its charging components, such external and physical damage may cause your car to smoke excessively at some point.
The impact of an accident, moisture ingress, or exposure to extreme temperatures can compromise the integrity of your car’s battery. It may also disrupt the cooling system’s functioning, electrical connections, and charging cables.
This can escalate over time, which may lead your Tesla’s internal battery to overheat and eventually cause smoke emissions.
4. Manufacturing Defects or Quality Control Issues:
While Tesla’s strict quality control measures aim to prevent manufacturing defects, they cannot be entirely infallible. Reports even claim customers complaining about the manufacturing defects they identified after encountering problems or issues with older Tesla Models.
Manufacturing defects in critical vehicle components, such as wirings or connectors can lead your car to release smoke during charging. So, owners should be aware of that too.
5. Improper Use or User Error:
Do you know that improper or aggressive use of your car can also lead to such commotion?
If you didn’t, now you know that. So, do not use your Tesla improperly anymore.
For example, do not leave your car in the charging mode for too long or avoid using the incorrect charging mode. Make sure to properly balance the battery cells to prevent potential smoking issues while charging your Tesla.
What to Do If Your Tesla Smoking While Charging?
As soon as you discover the smoke coming out of your Tesla, remain calm and swiftly take the following action:
- Stop Charging: Immediately unplug the charging cable from your car and the charging station or wall connector outlet (wherever your car was plugged in) to prevent the charging process.
- Move to a Safe Distance: In case you are charging in an enclosed space, such as a garage, move your car outdoors to ensure proper ventilation.
- Isolate Your Car: Make sure your car is away from any flammable materials or structures to prevent further issues.
- Contact Tesla Support: You should immediately try to contact Tesla’s customer support to report the incident and seek guidance on further troubleshooting steps. You may contact Tesla’s Roadside or Mobile Service Assistance for professional assistance.
- Do Not Attempt to Fix Anything: It can make the situation and your car’s problem much worse, if you attempt to diagnose the issue by yourself without professional technical expertise. So, avoid doing anything without proper knowledge.
- Evacuate when Necessary: If the situation escalates and you notice an increasing amount of smoke or flames, evacuate the area immediately and call emergency services.
- Keep a Record of the Incident: If it is safe, take pictures or videos of the situation as documentation. It will help you deal with the insurance process and communicate with Tesla’s support team.
Frequently Asked Questions [FAQs]
Why is my Tesla smoking while charging?
Excessive smoking can be attributed to a malfunction in the charging system or a faulty component. It can also be caused due to any issues related to your car’s internal battery, electrical connections, or cooling system.
Is smoking during Tesla charging dangerous?
Smoke emissions from a Tesla while it is charging can be dangerous in some cases. Excess smoke increases the chances of a potential fire hazard.
Can I keep my Tesla plugged in while it’s fully charged?
No, you should not keep your Tesla plug in the charging when it’s already completely charged. It may eventually damage your car’s battery.
