By JADA BAS
This is the terrifying moment a suspected faulty battery caused an electric car to spontaneously burst into flames and explode.
James Musonda, 33, from Sheffield, South Yorkshire, has spoken of the 'horrific' incident, saying he 'could have died' had he been in the car - and told how his young daughter was just yards away in the house.
The blaze also destroyed two other cars nearby and part of the road itself.
Mr Musonda was woken by the loud explosion, thinking a tree had fallen on his home until he looked outside to see flames rising from his Mercedes EQA.
After checking on his wife and daughter, Mr Musonda rushed downstairs but was unable to leave because the fierce blaze engulfed the road.
Shocking footage shows the car was steadily smoking for a number of seconds before suddenly exploding - with a nearby fence and garden shed later catching fire.
Fire crews attended the scene until midday the next day - moving the car from the road to a nearby grass verge.
The father-of-one claims Mercedes is refusing to investigate because the car was leased through his company via the Tusker salary sacrifice car scheme.
This is the terrifying moment a suspected faulty battery caused an electric car to spontaneously burst into flames and explode
James Musonda, 33, from Sheffield, South Yorkshire, has spoken of the 'horrific' incident, saying he 'could've died' had he been in the car and his young daughter was just metres away in the house
Fire crews attended the scene until midday the next day - moving the car from the road to a nearby grass verge
The pensions consultant said: 'It was horrific. I thought it was a tree that had fallen or something on the house - it was terrifying.
'When I realised it was my car I was screaming and hysterical. All I could see was flames when I opened the door.
'My daughter was in the house...I could have died if I was in that car.'
'We couldn't get out the house because of the flames in front of the house. The fire brigade managed to get us out, but it kept making little explosions.
'We're very shaken up - if I see an electric car I stay well away from it.'
Mr Musonda's car was recalled by Mercedes for work in October 2024, but he wasn't told why.
He said: 'They needed to bring it in for safety work and they had it until mid-January.
'They didn't give me any report on what the issue was and what they had done. They said there was nothing to be paid, and it was all under warranty. Six weeks later, it explodes.'
But Mercedes is refusing to investigate the fire or accept responsibility and are taking away the courtesy car provided, the father has claimed.
He said: 'Initially, they provided me with another car and they would investigate. Now they are taking it away.
Shocking footage shows the car was steadily smoking for a number of seconds before suddenly exploding - with a nearby fence and garden shed later catching fire
After checking on his wife and daughter, Mr Musonda, rushed downstairs but was unable to leave because the fierce blaze engulfed the road
The ravaging blaze also destroyed two other cars nearby and the road itself
The father-of-one claims Mercedes is refusing to investigate because the car was leased through his company via the Tusker salary sacrifice car scheme
'About a month ago they sent me an email to say that Tusker should be investigating it because the lease was through them and that Mercedes had nothing to do with it.
'I contacted Tusker, and they said they were waiting for Mercedes factory representatives to see it and Mercedes again say it's not their fault.
'They haven't acknowledged me or shown any sympathy at all.
'I've asked what work was done when they had the car from October to January and they've ignored me.
'Tusker just provide the agreement; Mercedes deliver the car to me. It's a Mercedes car, their build.'
Mercedes told MailOnline: 'We were sorry to learn of the incident in March.
'Mercedes-Benz Customer Services have been in regular contact with Mr Musonda since then and have kept him mobile in a courtesy car.
'We continue to support the vehicle owner (Tusker) with their investigations.'
Tusker have been contacted for comment.
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