BENTONVILLE, AR - A lot has risen in popularity within this past decade: Walmart, Tesla, and sustainable resources are just a few. However, recent news revealed that Walmart is not happy with Tesla nor its solar panels, which caused seven stores to catch fire since installation. Walmart has decided to take legal recourse and is sueing Tesla.
“This is a breach of contract action arising from years of gross negligence and failure to live up to industry standards by Tesla with respect to solar panels that Tesla designed, installed, and promised to operate and maintain safely on the roofs of hundreds of Walmart stores,” Walmart said in the court filing.
Due to these fires, a significant amount of store merchandise was destroyed and substantial repairs are needed, totaling in hundreds of thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket losses, according to a lawsuit filed in a New York court on Tuesday and cited in The Guardian. Walmart has tried to reach an amicable, yet firm, resolution, but states that Tesla responded unsatisfactorily. According to arsTechnica, there were sharp points, hotspots, improper grounding, cracks, and tape to cover those cracks.
The solar panels, first used in 2010 on around 240 stores, were constructed and installed by SolarCity, a company started by two of Elon Musk’s cousins but bought by Tesla in 2016. In concurrence with these recent fires is also a federal field investigation by the US National Transportation Safety Board after several Model X and Model S owners across the globe said their cars burst into flames.
Will Walmart pursue a different avenue in its mission toward sustainability? Keep reading ANUK as we deliver the latest in the industry.
