The Expert Podcast

Sometimes, there's an overlooked factor of electric vehicles that might be worth considering for your purchase or maybe even use and lifestyle. An EV (electric vehicle) is different than a gas vehicle in that when you go to recharge it or refuel it, you don't pull into a gas station, pop out, fill it up in two or three minutes, and leave. You're locked into that EV charging station for a long time—sometimes an hour or more.

It's bad enough when you pull into a gas station; there's just a little bit of a risk factor. There’s a lot of robberies and crime that occur in gas stations because thieves and criminals know that you're going to be stopped. Sometimes, they’ll reach into the other side of your car (hopefully you leave it unlocked for their sake) and grab your purse, wallet, or something of value out of the car. They may even carjack you because you step out of the car to put the gas in. Sometimes, that's their opportunity to do this. But with electric vehicles, you're only there for a few minutes—five minutes at the most.

With electric vehicles, you're stuck there plugged in, where you can't just drive away for an hour or more. What happens if you're in an EV charging station, your car's plugged in, and a thief comes up to the window with a gun or starts banging on your car? What are you going to do? You're known to be stopped there for an hour, and a smart thief will take advantage of this opportunity and maybe use it for criminal intentions. What if they block you in, don’t let you leave, or if they start banging on your window or smash your window to grab something out of your car? You can't just turn on the car and drive away. You're locked in with a cord, tied to that place.

This is something that was addressed in an article—a major concern for women is safety and security at charging stations. By definition, you are committed to being there. A thief knows you’re going to be sitting in your car for an hour. If they're just sitting across the street watching you pull in, they know that once you get there, you're basically hostage for one hour and they can do whatever they want.

So, you might want to consider that. Make sure you're charging in public areas during the daylight. Maybe try charging at home so you're not stopped for too long in a place, or perhaps charge in a parking lot where you can plug in and walk into a store. You're not trapped in your car. Thinking about that usability and the charging reality might be something important—just like you plan everything else about your day.

Tell us what your thoughts are in the comments. Is this something you've considered, or do you think it's too much of a risk to get an electric vehicle?