Staying Safe While Charging

After a shooting last weekend at an In-N-Out and visitor center in Twin Falls, Idaho, left a man wounded while he sat in his Tesla at a Supercharger, there's been talk about safety at EV charging stations. It's worth keeping some perspective if you own or are considering an electric car: mass shootings remain rare, and you're statistically more likely to be hurt by something like a fall, carbon monoxide, or the broader effects of climate change than by an incident like this one. It could just as easily have happened at a gas station or a restaurant, and most home EV charging happens overnight in your own driveway or garage, away from any of this.

For public charging, a few habits can help with everyday risks like theft or carjacking, not just rare violent events. Getting out of the car while it charges, rather than sitting inside, makes it easier to move, get away, or find help if something goes wrong. Staying aware of your surroundings instead of staring at your phone helps you notice trouble sooner. And with more charging options available now than a few years ago, it's worth picking a station based on lighting, visibility, nearby businesses, and how the area feels — and simply leaving if a spot seems off.

None of this is a reason to reconsider an EV purchase. The bigger risk to your health and safety, long term, comes from not addressing climate change at all.