With California in the midst of raging wildfires, many electric vehicle (EV) owners are facing a new kind of worry: Can my electric car get me out of here in time?
While leaders like President Biden and California Gov. Gavin Newsom are pushing for more people to switch to EVs, there’s still a big hurdle to overcome. For many, it’s the fear of running out of charge—known as “range anxiety.” What if there isn’t a charging station nearby when I need it most? This question is becoming even more urgent with power outages and evacuations affecting over 100,000 people.
Matthew Butterick, an attorney from Los Angeles, expressed his concerns about relying on an EV during an emergency. He pointed out that with a gasoline car, you can always find a station to refuel, no matter where you are. But in the case of EVs, especially during power outages, charging stations could be overloaded, causing long delays. And with power companies cutting electricity to avoid sparking fires, there’s even more uncertainty.
Val Cipollone, a resident of Berkeley, echoed these worries. She owns a fully electric Nissan Leaf but is now considering switching to a hybrid. The uncertainty of how far she might need to drive to escape a wildfire has made her reconsider her reliance on an all-electric vehicle.
California has been a leader in the U.S. when it comes to adopting electric vehicles, with over 1 million EVs on the road in 2023. But despite efforts from both state and federal governments, the demand for EVs has started to slow down. In fact, the growth rate of EV sales dropped significantly this year, raising questions about whether the push for EVs is reaching its limits.
Despite incentives like tax credits and factory subsidies, many people are still hesitant to make the switch. A recent poll found that nearly half of Americans are either unlikely or very unlikely to buy an electric vehicle.
While California has been pushing hard to promote electric vehicles, with ambitious goals like banning new gas-powered cars by 2035, it’s clear that the path to widespread EV adoption is still filled with challenges. Will electric vehicles be ready to serve as reliable evacuation options during natural disasters? Only time will tell.
What do you think? Would you rely on an EV during an emergency? Let us know in the comments!
