Luxury EV explodes into flames outside family home

A family say they were “lucky we got out safely” after their $98,000 Mercedes spontaneously combusted in the rain.

A luxury $98,000 EV exploded into flames after it “spontaneously combusted” while sitting idle in the rain outside a home in a quaint English village.

Its owners have described a sound “like a bomb going off” before flames destroyed the vehicle and spread to their garage, with the incident captured on CCTV footage.

“The pace and ferocity at which the fire took hold and engulfed the entire car and pretty much the entire front of our house was scary beyond belief,” owner Scott Bayliss told The Sun.

Pictures and video of the September incident show flames rising above head height as the Mercedes EQA burned, with Mr Bayliss’ wife Georgina saying her family was “lucky we got out safely”.

In CCTV footage, the SUV can be seen sitting just a few feet from the home in Spratton, Northamptonshire when a cloud of vapour appears underneath the car.

Then it suddenly burst into a blaze, appearing to start underneath the motor on the left-hand side.

MORE: China’s EV ‘bloodbath’ is already here

An EV erupted in flames outside a home in Northampton, UK.

Within ten seconds, the fire leapt to the bonnet and the windscreen, despite the fact it was raining at the time.

Mr Bayliss can be seen rushing out of the house and grabbing the hose pipe in an effort to douse the flames.

Neighbours also rushed to help, but the entire car is swallowed by the inferno within a minute of it starting.

“My son thought someone was letting off fireworks but then there was a very loud bang like a bomb going off. There were flames everywhere,” Mr Bayliss said.

“Then the next few hours were chaos.

“The initial investigator concluded the vehicle was in such a bad state, it was difficult to ascertain what the fault was.

MORE: Warning to EV owners after garage horror

The incident was caught on a CCTV camera installed at the home.

“Luckily we were still up but it could have happened in the middle of the night when we were asleep.

“That doesn’t bear thinking about.”

Lithium-ion battery fires have been a concern for authorities in Australia, although fires starting in electric cars are more rare.

In early October, 20 people were evacuated from a hotel in the Sydney suburb of Burwood after a blaze broke out suspected to have stemmed from several vape batteries being charged.

Two women were killed in a house fire at Teralba, Lake Macquarie, in February when a lithium-ion battery went into “thermal runaway” – issuing toxic fumes and then flames.

Other recent incidents around Sydney have included e-bike, e-skateboard and leaf blower batteries exploding in flames.

MORE: Aussie EV prices plummet to new low

Two women were killed in a townhouse fire at Teralba on February 29, 2024.

NSW Fire and Rescue Commissioner Fewtrell in September said lithium-ion battery fires were “the fastest growing fire risk” in the state.

“Since 1 January, FRNSW has attended more than 210 lithium-ion battery fires where people have been injured and property severely damaged,” he said.

“Sadly, two people also lost their lives.”

Northampton firefighters confirmed that Bayliss property’s garage had been set alight during the car fire, while a front bedroom had suffered smoke damage.

Ms Bayliss added that the family was “lucky to have got out safely”, but the couple claim that Mercedes did not “take (them) seriously when they complained.

MORE: Chinese car brands at war over EV prices

Lithium iron batteries are a concern for authorities.

Her husband said: “It’s a bit more than a dodgy boot lid.

“When electric cars do go it’s the most ferocious and explosive thing.

“It continued to explode, pop and fizz in front of me. It was like having a bonfire outside your front door.”

A Mercedes spokesperson told The Sun the company could not comment while the investigation was ongoing, but stressed it had reached out to the family.

“We were sorry to learn of the incident,” the spokesperson said.

“After receiving contact from Mr Bayliss, we took it very seriously and immediately contacted his vehicle insurer to arrange to investigate and examine the vehicle.

“We received feedback today and will set up a joint inspection shortly. Until then, please understand that we cannot comment further.

“In the meantime, we have offered Mr Bayliss a loan car as a gesture of goodwill.”

– with The Sun.