Tesla Model X Emergency Response Guide takes us deep into inner workings of the car with schematics

Tesla released its ‘Emergency Response Guide’ for the Model X and oddly enough, the literature intended for use by trained and certified rescuers and first responders give us one of the first good look at the Model X’s inner workings with schematics.

The guide provides instructions on how to safely handle the electric vehicle in an emergency situation and avoid high voltage components, which are a risk for rescuers on the scene of a car crash.

In the guide, Tesla warns that a failure to follow recommended practices or procedures can result in “serious injury or death”.

Of course, with the Model X being a fully electric vehicle, it contains significantly more high voltage components (Tesla lists 14 in total) than in an average gas-powered car and therefore more risk.

Then all these components are obviously connected with high voltage cables, which are probably the main risk for rescuers when cutting into a vehicle. Here is Tesla’s schematic of the cables:

The automaker also released some safety details about the Model X, more especially about its reinforcements:

Model X is heavily reinforced to protect occupants. The A-pillars and B-pillars are built with boron steel. The B-pillar is additionally reinforced with a dual-phase 980 steel pipe that runs from the roof rail to just below the latch striker. Suitable tools must be used to cut or crush these areas.

Interestingly, Tesla suggests to treat a fully or partially submerged Model X like any other vehicle. Though it’s not exactly the case for a fire. If the fire doesn’t involve the battery then yes, Tesla says to use regular vehicle firefighting techniques. But if the fire involves the battery pack, Tesla provides much more details which can be read in full on page 21.

Here’s the guide in full for some schematic goodies:

[slideshare id=56273487&doc=2016modelxemergencyresponseguide-151218123042]

(Hat tip to Paul Carter for the link)

Tesla has similar literature for the Model S, but there are also a few interesting electric vehicle safety training videos featuring the car. Here’s a particularly interesting one released in 2013:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCoUhy2Ypb8