Every article I've seen about the battery says that it doesn't use the usual chemistry, and that only the form factor is standard. I figured you would have something factual to say, given that you're saying you know it's dangerous.
All the information I've seen says they use stock Panasonic NCR-18650A lithium ion batteries just like clumsysmurf said. (The "A" just means that it's the 3100mAH nominal capacity version - there are several NCR-18650 batteries with different capacities.)
It's a fairly common 18650 battery, lots of laptops use this specific model.
I'm not sure what you are trying to do - but I almost fell for it.
First, I specifically stated "3100mAH NCR-18650s" which is a specific part, not a form factor which anyone who handles these batteries would know - which was your first (confused) reply.
Second, from everywhere I have read, like (1) these are just standard cells.
Lastly, I was originally stating that I would feel unsafe being around this technology. I did not say "the technology is unsafe."
If it makes you feel better, Tesla as a company gives me great hope and I am rooting for them. I do not have ties to anyone at all.
It would have been nice if you could have simply pointed to some factual reason (like breser did above) why I shouldn't be worried.
It would be better if you gave a reason why you should be worried. That casing is about as fireproof as it gets and those model-s incidents where there was a fire the occupants made it out without so much as a singed hair on their legs.
I'm sure given the 'right' conditions you could get a catastrophic release of energy out of a pack this size but I'm fairly certain that the occupants of the car would not be in a state where they would realize that the battery had also exploded since they'd be too distracted by evaporating themselves.
