Tesla Semi Battery Fire Shuts Down California I-880 for Nearly 10 Hours

A pre-production Tesla Semi caught fire on Interstate 880 in Hayward, California on Tuesday evening, October 28, forcing a complete shutdown of both directions of the highway for nearly ten hours. The California Highway Patrol confirmed the fire involved the truck's lithium battery and that no injuries were reported.

What happened

According to the CHP, the electric truck caught fire at approximately 5:35 p.m. in the southbound lanes of I-880. Within ten minutes, officers had shut down both directions of the highway due to concerns about hazardous smoke from the burning battery. The CHP warned motorists of the complete closure on X, noting the potential risks associated with the battery fire.

Footage of the incident shows the truck was a Frito-Lay vehicle and one of the pre-production test units. The driver told officers the rig had caught fire but could not identify the cause. No other vehicles were involved.

• Location: Southbound I-880, Hayward, California
• Timeline: Fire at ~5:35 p.m. PT; northbound reopened ~8:40 p.m.; all lanes open ~3:30 a.m. Wednesday (~10 hours total)
• Cause: Not yet confirmed; lithium battery involvement confirmed by CHP
• Injuries: None reported; no other vehicles involved
• Vehicle: Pre-production test unit (Frito-Lay livery)

Context: a repeat incident

This is the second Tesla Semi fire on a California highway. In 2024, a Semi crash on Interstate 80 prompted an NTSB investigation into the battery fire that followed. Unlike the 2024 incident, this fire was not preceded by a crash — the truck was in normal operation when it ignited. The exact cause has not been confirmed.

What it means for Canadian fleet buyers

Tesla has been aggressively courting Canadian fleet customers, with the company opening its largest service center in North America in Vancouver and promoting the Semi's 98% uptime figure in marketing materials. Canadian logistics companies, including Bison Transport, have been testing the vehicle for cross-border routes.

For Canadian fleet decision-makers, two incidents in under two years on California highways — where the operating conditions (temperatures, road surfaces) are relatively mild compared to Canadian winters — raise questions about thermal management in cold-climate operation. The NTSB investigation into the 2024 fire has not yet published a final report with root-cause findings.

Fleet buyers in Canada should note that the pre-production status of this unit means the production fleet may incorporate design changes. Tesla has not commented on the incident. The CHP has not announced a formal investigation, though the battery involvement means Transport Canada's Transportation Safety Board could take an interest if a similar incident occurs on Canadian soil.

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