An Audi e-tron GT has reportedly caught fire while at a US dealership for servicing.
In a post on Facebook, the Carmel Fire Department – which services the city of Carmel, Indiana – was called to the scene of a dealership over the weekend for a fire alarm that had triggered the sprinklers.
“The first in crews were met with heavy smoke conditions throughout the entire maintenance area,” reads the Facebook post.
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“After balancing the alarm, firefighters were able to mostly extinguish the EV car fire up on the lift, however, being lithium ion it’s nearly impossible to fully extinguish if there is thermal runaway.”
Firefighters were able to lower the car onto wheel dollies, and use both manpower and a forklift to push the vehicle out of the maintenance area.
It appears the crew was able to subdue the flames before the Audi was loaded onto a flatbed and taken to a salvage yard, a fire truck following closely behind.
It’s unclear what the cause of the fire was.
Looking at the exterior, the front of the e-tron GT appears to have received the greatest damage. This incidentally is where the 12-volt battery is, with the high-voltage battery instead located under the vehicle.
However, the e-tron GT has been the subject of recalls for its high-voltage battery, with Audi warning of potential fire risks.
This has also affected Australian-market vehicles.
In January, Audi Australia recalled 222 examples of the e-tron GT as moisture could enter the high-voltage battery due to an issue with the sealing. This could in turn result in an electrical short circuit and, in turn, a fire.
In June, Audi Australia issued a recall for 369 vehicles as defective cell modules may have been installed in the high-voltage battery. This also could result in a short circuit and fire.
