A TESLA driver was dramatically hurled to the ground in a terrifying explosion after trying to charge his car using a knock-off, dodgy adapter.
Shocking footage from the scene shows the moment a fireball erupted at a charging point in Hope, British Columbia.
The driver had reportedly been using a non-Tesla A27 EV adapter when the device suddenly malfunctioned – triggering a violent blast that sent flames shooting into the sky.
In the clip, the man can be seen standing right beside his car when the explosion rips through the charger, engulfing the area in smoke.
He is thrown backwards by the force landing hard on the ground.
The dazed driver is then seen trying to regain his balance, stumbling and falling again before managing to stand up.
A passenger who had been sitting in the Tesla rushes out moments later, appearing unhurt, and runs over to check on the man.
The incident left the victim with minor scrapes and burn marks to his vehicle, according to a report by Technical Safety BC (TSBC).
Investigators found that the man had used the same adapter roughly 50 times before the explosion – but a “combination of malfunctions” this time caused a devastating chain reaction.
TSBC’s report revealed that a short circuit within the DC fast charger sent abnormal voltage through the cable and into the adapter, sparking what experts call an “arc-flash.”
An arc-flash is a powerful electrical explosion, often caused by high voltage or current, moisture, or damaged insulation, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).
The blast unleashed a massive burst of heat and light – enough to send the driver flying.
In the wake of the explosion in August last year, A2Z EV released a statement confirming it had launched its own investigation into what went wrong.
The company said it agreed with TSBC’s findings, acknowledging that the problem originated from within the charging station.
According to A2Z EV, diagnostic data and event logs showed that multiple ground-fault warnings had appeared before the explosion – but were never fixed.
The firm insisted that its equipment was not to blame.
A2Z’s inspection “discovered no manufacturing or insulation defect in the connected A2Z EV adapter,” the statement said.
“The damage observed was consistent with exposure to an external ground fault originating from the charger,” the company added.
“The adapter became a secondary path for current once the charger’s internal fault energized the ground circuit.”
The company stressed that safety remains its top priority, vowing to continue working closely with regulators and customers.
“We will remain transparent with our customers, partners, and regulators as we work together to build a stronger and safer EV charging ecosystem,” A2Z said.
A2Z’s CEO Amine Zitour described the incident as deeply concerning.
“It’s not something that we wanted to see happen, especially not with our adapter or with any adapter on the market, because this creates fear with EVs,” Zitour told the Vancouver Sun.
He added that his team’s investigation uncovered a fault in the station’s battery stack – and that an automatic shutdown safety measure designed to prevent accidents failed to activate.
The frightening explosion has now sparked serious questions about the safety of off market adapters and public EV chargers.
And while the driver was lucky to escape with only minor injuries, the fiery footage serves as a chilling reminder of what can go wrong when technology – quite literally – blows up.
