Concerns about crime could cripple one of President Joe Biden's and Democrats' dreams of a green future.
As the number of electric vehicles on the road increases, so does the need for reliable and accessible charging stations. However, expanding EV infrastructure could be facing an unforeseen threat as vandalism of stations has been seen across the nation.
NOVEMBER TO REMEMBER: YOUNGKIN BETS 15-WEEK ABORTION CAP WILL DELIVER 2023 GOP TAKEOVER
Cases of charging cords being cut or stolen essential parts can render stations inoperable for days. While charging stations are supposed to be inspected regularly, unforeseen circumstances could extend the repair time for vandalized stations. In February, a new Tesla supercharger station in California was destroyed days after opening. The stations had a total of eight high-speed V3 Supercharger stalls, with every single cable reportedly stolen.
Concerns over finding a charging station are among the top reasons deterring people from switching to EVs, according to a poll from Ipsos and Yahoo Finance, with 77% of respondents noting a lack of charging stations or perceived lack of charging stations.
Theft of pricey cables used to charge EVs from owners' driveways is occurring as well. Theft of EV parts has been seen across the country recently, adding another barrier to EV station advancements. In Los Angeles, residents are reporting thefts of their personal charging cords for electric cars.
Many of these incidents have been occurring in California, a leader in overall EV sales, reporting more than 900,000 sales in the first quarter of 2023. Despite high sales records, California recorded only 3.5 public charging ports per every 100 EVs, according to Automoblog in September. NBC4 reported that EV driver Bob Schneiderman in July had his charging cord stolen from his Los Angeles driveway and had to pay $2,700 for a replacement.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
Democrats have proposed rules to set certification standards for EV charging stations under the Biden administration, working with the Federal Highway Administration to lower driver concerns over a lack of reliable charging ports. Under the 2021 bipartisan infrastructure law, chargers must meet a 97% uptime reliability requirement by inspectors.
While Biden announced a large new investment in EV charging equipment this year, hoping to build 500,000 EV chargers by 2030, crime at charging stations and on private property could deter Democrats' plans to expedite the electricity transition.