A Dacia Spring electrical metropolis automotive caught fireplace in Romania and burned to a crisp in what’s the first incident of its variety in Romania and the second in Europe involving the Chinese language-built EV. 

The proprietor of the automobile posted concerning the incident on the Dacia Spring Romania Fb group and included photographs displaying the aftermath of the hearth. He stated the hearth broke out at round 5 p.m. on Might 11 because the automotive was being pushed by his spouse within the neighborhood of their house in Timis county, western Romania.

Ionel Carnu stated the spouse, who was driving their son again from faculty, panicked when she heard a loud noise from beneath the automobile, a mix of hissing and squeaking, as she was some 330 yards away from house. She known as her husband and instructed him thick smoke was beginning to come out from beneath the automotive, from the realm the place the drive battery is situated.

She continued to drive the automotive till she reached house, the place she pulled over instantly and acquired out of the automobile collectively together with her son. “Fifteen minutes after that, the automotive was fully engulfed in flames,” Ionel wrote on Fb, including that his Dacia Spring burned to a crisp.

When firefighters arrived on the scene, they discovered the automotive had been fully destroyed by the hearth. They recognized a brief circuit because the preliminary reason for the incident, however they didn’t decide whether or not it concerned the battery or electrical system parts.

The proprietor stated he had owned the automotive from new for a yr and a half and was extraordinarily glad with it throughout this time. He additionally famous that he at all times charged the automobile at house. Fortuitously, the automotive nonetheless has 18 months of guarantee left and is totally coated by insurance coverage. The automobile had 36,000 kilometers (22,400 miles) on the odometer.

In a later submit three days after the unlucky occasion, Ionel supplied extra particulars, together with the actual fact he is satisfied that the hearth originated within the battery pack. 

“I’ve already submitted to authorities and Dacia representatives photographs and movies of the horrific incident that clearly present how the thick smoke is popping out strictly from the battery pack space,” he stated. Having witnessed the automotive catching on fireplace, he believes there is not any different doable trigger on this case.

Clearly, that is for consultants to find out, and a group of engineers from Dacia‘s important plant in Mioveni, Romania will come to see the wreck within the coming days and perform a technical experience. Dacia additionally knowledgeable the proprietor the group shall be chatting with his spouse and ask for statements concerning the circumstances earlier than and after the occasion.

For sure, a tragedy may have occurred had the automotive caught on fireplace whereas driving at excessive velocity or whereas parked in a storage. The Carnu household say they have been traumatized by the occasion and would by no means drive a Dacia Spring once more. We contacted Dacia and mother or father firm Renault for an official assertion concerning this incident and we’ll replace this house once we hear again.

The first reported incident involving a Dacia Spring occurred in Italy in November 2022 when a automobile caught fireplace in a parking zone throughout charging.