A Tesla driver sustained injuries from an arc flash explosion while charging his vehicle at a non-Tesla station in Hope, British Columbia. The incident occurred in August 2024 and was documented in a video that shows the driver being thrown to the ground by the force of the explosion. His spouse quickly exited the vehicle to assist him.

The driver was using a third-party adapter manufactured by A2Z EV, a company based in Montreal. This adapter had been purchased two years prior and had been used around 50 times without any issues. However, it was not certified for use in Canada, as the necessary certification framework had not yet been established.

An updated report from Technical Safety B.C., released on October 9, identified a series of errors that led to the explosion. A short circuit in the charging station sent an abnormal voltage through the adapter, which then experienced an internal arc fault, resulting in an explosion that damaged both the adapter and the vehicle. The explosion caused extensive damage to the vehicle, the charging cable, and the internal components of the EV charger. The adapter, essential for charging Teslas at non-Tesla public stations, was also destroyed. The driver suffered minor scrapes and abrasions.

Amine Zitour, CEO of A2Z EV, stated that his company was contacted by the vehicle owner on the day of the incident. A2Z EV collaborated with Technical Safety and the charging station company to investigate the cause. Zitour's internal investigation revealed a fault in the charging station's battery stack, which typically would trigger an automatic shutdown in most commercial charging stations, but did not in this case.

"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 said.

Bob Porter, a representative from the Vancouver Electric Vehicle Association, emphasized the importance of electrical safety. He noted that while many aftermarket charging options are available online, not all comply with North American safety standards. "There are risks with third-party things if they aren’t approved," Porter said. "They haven’t been tested for safety. You don’t jerk around with electricity."

A new standard for EV charging adapters, ANSI/CAN/UL 2252, was established by the Society of Automotive Engineers on March 19, 2025. Zitour mentioned that four of his products, including two compatible with Tesla vehicles, meet the Canadian Standard Association standards and undergo extensive testing.

Porter, who drives a Tesla, avoids using adapters and prefers certified Tesla charging equipment. "I’d rather pay a little bit more to only use stuff that is CSA-approved in Canada or certified by Underwriters Laboratories in the U.S. You’ve got to look for those approvals — only use equipment that’s certified by North American agencies," he said.

He cautioned that even seemingly legitimate products may not be safe. "You can’t assume it’s the same factory making it and selling it under a different name. There’s a real risk," he added. Porter believes this incident serves as a warning for anyone using uncertified electrical products.

Zitour echoed this sentiment, stating, "It has never been seen before in history, that normal people can have within their hands, 250 kilowatts and more. I encourage people to only buy certified adapters, and to ensure there is a background behind the company. Liability is important when you buy stuff from other platforms and you have no recourse against the seller if something happens."