Jaguar I-Pace Burns To The Ground In Florida

Aug. 04, 2022 1:37 PM ET by Dave Pankew Electric Vehicles / 10 Comments

The I-Pace uses the same LG Chem battery tech as the troubled Chevy Bolt.

The threat of an EV catching fire is a legitimate concern, especially after a crash. And once the batteries ignite, it becomes nearly impossible to extinguish due to thermal runaway, where one cell inevitably ignites the next until the entire battery pack is gone. Since these fires can't be extinguished using water, firefighters require special training.

There have also been reports of EVs catching fire while parked, as one owner of a Jaguar I-Pace SUV recently found out. Luckily, he had the foresight to remove his car from the garage to stop his entire home from burning down.

Gonzalo Salazar of Boynton Beach, Florida, took matters into his own hands after his 2019 I-Pace started making popping noises and billowing smoke. Salazar backed the car out of the garage and into the street, which was a smart move looking at the image below.

"Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC is committed to our customers' safety, and we are aware of this I-Pace incident in Boynton Beach, FL." A spokesperson told CarBuzz. "We have been in contact with and are cooperating with the customer's insurance company expert regarding a vehicle inspection. JLRNA is unable to comment further on questions until the investigation is completed."

While launching an investigation into the cause of the fire is commendable, there are two problems: This is the fourth such fire of a Jaguar I-Pace and this incident occurred back on June 17. It i

s now August and Jaguar has yet to release any findings from the investigation after they towed away what was left of the I-Pace.

The incident happened innocently enough, with Salazar charging his I-Pace in the garage of his home overnight. In the morning, he unplugged the car and put on about 12 miles before returning to the garage and leaving the garage door ajar. Salazar then heard pops coming from the garage and decided to investigate further. When he opened the door, he was greeted with a garage full of smoke and decided to take action.

Firefighters were able to extinguish the blaze with a special foam used to extinguish EV fires. The insurance adjuster later declared the Jag a total loss (but that was blatantly obvious).

Jaguar hauled the wreck away but has not yet provided answers. The Jaguar I-Pace uses LG Chem tech in its batteries. It's the same battery tech responsible for the infamous Chevy Bolt fires.

Source Credits: insideevs

Jaguar I-Pace Burns To The Ground In Florida

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