State Farm is removing all EV chargers from its garages due to fire concerns

The insurance company said it will explore alternative solutions for employees who drive electric to work

Insurance giant State Farm has decided to withdraw EV from the market charging stations from parking decks across the country, with fire safety concerns cited as the main reason. The Illinois-based company, known for insuring virtually everything under the sun, is now exploring alternative charging options for its EV-driving employees and promises to make further announcements once it has a plan in place. It’s a strange attitude from a company built on managing risk, but perhaps this risk was simply too big to handle.

Local news channel WGLT reports that the decision will impact State Farm’s headquarters in Bloomington, Illinois, along with several satellite offices across the country. The removal deadline is set for October 28, giving workers who rely on the garage chargers less than a month to find a new way to keep their electric vehicles charged during the workday.

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In a message reportedly sent to employees, State Farm stated: “While we understand the impact on those who rely on electric vehicle charging, our top priority is to ensure a safe work environment for our employees. Following an Enterprise Risk Assessment and assessments carried out by local fire brigades and workplace protection in each hub and corporate headquarters, fire risks have been identified in the car parks that cannot be mitigated at this time.”

If that sounds a little ominous, it’s probably meant to be.

Speak with 25 NewsState Farm explains: “Charging stations currently located in our parking garages will close. There are plans to explore alternative charging locations outside car parks, including the option for EV parking. We will announce relevant updates once these plans are finalized.”

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

The insurer seems convinced that moving EV chargers to surface lots is a safer bet, as it minimizes the potential threat to other vehicles and buildings.

EV fires have been a subject of controversy in recent years for some high-profile cases around the world. Although research shows that electric vehicles are statistically less likely to catch fire than traditional gas or hybrid vehicles, when their batteries do ignite, they can turn into a firefighting nightmare. Each individual cell can catch fire individually, requiring specialized techniques and large amounts of water to extinguish. The image of an EV fire raging in a closed, underground garage doesn’t exactly inspire confidence.

Chargers are often installed closed parking spaces to be protected from the elements. But a fire in an enclosed space can quickly fill a garage with toxic smoke and heat intense enough to damage the building itself. That’s a risk that State Farm clearly doesn’t want to ignore – even if it means literally and figuratively leaving its own employees out in the cold.

Whether other companies will follow State Farm’s lead remains to be seen, but as the largest provider of property, casualty, and auto insurance in the United States, State Farm’s move could set a precedent.

H/T to Marco for the tip!