State Farm is removing all electric vehicle chargers from its garages due to fire hazards

The insurance company said it will explore alternatives for employees who drive electric vehicles to work

Insurance giant State Farm has decided to phase out electric vehicles charging stations from parking lots across the country, citing fire safety as the main reason. The Illinois-based company, known for insuring just about everything under the sun, is currently exploring alternative charging options for its electric vehicle employees and promises to make further announcements once it has a plan. This is an odd stance for a company that relies on risk management, but perhaps the risk was just too great to handle.

Local news site WGLT reports that the decision will impact State Farm’s headquarters in Bloomington, Illinois, as well as various subsidiary offices across the country. The deadline to fix the failure was set for October 28, giving employees who use garage chargers less than a month to find a new way to charge their electric vehicles during the workday.

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In a message sent to employees, State Farm stated: “While we understand the impact of this situation on those using electric vehicle charging, our top priority is ensuring a safe work environment for our employees. Following a business risk assessment and assessments carried out by local fire departments and workplace protection at each company center and headquarters, a fire risk was identified in the parking garages which cannot currently be mitigated.

If this sounds a bit ominous, that’s probably the intention.

I’m talking to 25 MessagesState Farm explained: “The charging stations currently located in our garages will be closed. There are plans to explore alternative charging locations outside garages, including the possibility of parking electric vehicles. We will announce appropriate updates once these plans are finalized. ”

Translation: expect your electric vehicle to be parked somewhere in the open, away from any structural assets that State Farm doesn’t want to risk.

The insurer seems convinced that it is moving EW chargers on ground plots is a safer solution because it minimizes the potential threat to other vehicles and buildings.

Electric vehicle fires have been the subject of controversy over the past few years, due to some high-profile cases around the world. Although research shows that electric vehicles are statistically less likely to catch fire compared to traditional gas-powered vehicles or hybrid vehicles, when they do catch fire, their batteries can become a firefighter’s nightmare. Each individual cell can ignite individually, requiring specialized techniques and huge amounts of water to extinguish. The sight of an electric vehicle fire raging in a closed, underground garage does not inspire confidence.

Chargers are often installed indoors parking spaces to protect from the elements. However, a fire in an enclosed space can quickly fill a garage with toxic smoke and heat intense enough to damage the building itself. It’s a risk that State Farm is clearly unwilling to ignore – even if it means leaving its own employees out in the cold, literally and figuratively.

Time will tell whether other corporations will follow State Farm’s lead, but as the largest property, casualty and auto insurance company in the United States, State Farm’s move could set a precedent.

H/T to Marco for the tip!