Staying Safe While Charging

A shooting spree in Twin Falls, Idaho on Saturday wounded a taxi driver sitting in his Tesla at a Supercharger station; he is alive but undergoing multiple surgeries. CleanTechnica advises EV drivers to stay safe at charging stations by getting out of the car, paying attention to surroundings, and not exaggerating risks, noting that most charging happens at home and climate change poses a greater threat.

Staying Safe While Charging Support CleanTechnica's work through a Substack subscription https://cleantechnica.substack.com/subscribe , on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/cleantechnica , or on Stripe https://cleantechnica.fundjournalism.org/contribute/ . Help us produce all of the high-quality, original content we publish week after week https://cleantechnica.com/2026/07/14/10/ despite the challenges of content-scraping AI, antisocial media, inflation, and other hurdles.Chances are you’ve already heard about what happened in Twin Falls on Saturday. A man went on a shooting spree in Twin Falls, Idaho in the parking lots of an In-N-Out Burger and a visitor center. Among the wounded was a cab driver who was sitting in his Tesla at a Supercharger station. He’s alive, but is now going through multiple surgeries https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/crime/twin-falls-in-n-out-shooting/twin-falls-in-n-out-idaho-mass-shooting-victim-taxi-driver/277-184d1abb-b5dd-4a26-8859-57e981ca5203 . In this article, I want to focus on practical steps you and your family can take to stay safe at charging stations. I will not be discussing the politics of what happened or what governments should do in response to it. We all have opinions on that, and there are plenty of discussions about it on social media that you can join if that’s what you’re looking to do. Regardless of what we all think the world should look like, we’re all stuck with living with the reality on the ground. Let’s be productive, especially in the comments, about how we can each be safer. First, Let’s Not Exaggerate The Risks & Lose Sight Of More Common Dangers Including Climate Change The 1 thing you should consider is just how unlikely any given person is to actually experience a mass shooting, even in the United States. The old adage, “If it bleeds, it leads.” applies here. Mass shootings get copious amounts of news coverage because they’re going to be more interesting to viewers and readers. More routine dangers that kill people every day don’t get that kind of attention, so we forget about them. Don’t assume that this will happen to you and that you should build your life around avoiding it. You’re more likely to die from tripping and falling, carbon monoxide poisoning, or the effects of climate change and pollution than you are to die from a mass shooting. My point here: don’t skip out on buying an EV because one cab driver in Idaho got shot while at a charging station . It could just as easily get shot in a restaurant, at a gas station, or doing anything else you’d do if you owned a gas-powered car instead. Plus, most drivers do almost all of their charging at home. Actually doing something to address climate change is more likely to save your life than choosing a gas car could. Get Out Of The Car If You Can Being in a vehicle makes us feel safer. There’s metal and glass between us and the outside world. There’s music, comfortable seats, and heat or AC running. It’s the perfect place to sit and wait for the car to charge, right? Sadly, staying in the car can make you more vulnerable to violence than you might think. You can’t get away easily if a threat of some kind emerges. You can’t drive away because the car is plugged in. You can’t easily run without being more vulnerable. A thief, carjacker, or killer knows this and may choose to target you while you’re a captive audience. Getting out of the car and going inside a business helps you to be around more people who might encourage common crimes. Being able to move and find cover can help save you from indiscriminate killers. Pay Attention To Your Surroundings I’m guilty of this as much as anybody, but it needs to be said: don’t stare at your phone screen at a charger. If you can see people who are walking around near a charging station, you’ll know if someone is up to no good faster than you would if you aren’t paying attention. If you spot danger faster, your chances of being able to run away, fight back, or possibly even drive away all go up. One good way to not get bored while doing this is to do “people watching”. Look around at people and make up stories about what they’re up to. Pretend they’re all characters in a soap opera or science fiction show and have some fun with. If you’re with the family, play a game where you get points for every yellow piece of clothing or something. If you “gamify” paying attention or make it a fun mental exercise, it’s easier to do. Choose Chargers Wisely A few years ago, there was usually only one place to charge in a town. In 2026, there’s usually at least one alternative place to choose from. So, when you’re deciding which place to stop, think about which one might be safer. This might not help with a mass shooter, but it could help you avoid the crimes that are far more likely to happen. When you’re choosing a charger, think about the following: - Surrounding neighborhood - Lighting - People standing nearby or loitering suspiciously - Visibility - The kinds of businesses nearby Most importantly, don’t feel obligated to use a charger just because you drive up to it. If something feels wrong or creepy about a station, drive away and find another one if you can. Trust your instincts. Learn Non-Violent Dispute Resolution Tactics In many violent encounters, it’s your mouth that can get you out of trouble more than any weapon can. Knowing how to de-escalate a bad situation can get you out of trouble without needing to fight. If You Choose To Fight or Carry a Weapon… Like it or not, some people are going to see the news and choose to prepare by purchasing a weapon or learning martial arts. I’m not going to take a position on that in this article, and you shouldn’t take a position on this in the comments. This is a decision every person must make based on their own mental health situation, their own moral beliefs, and their own backgrounds. Instead, let’s be productive and briefly focus on reducing the risks for the people who choose this. First off, get training. Carrying a weapon or planning to put up a fight of some other kind without training is stupid. You need to learn the safety rules, learn how to actually use it, and learn what the laws are for such things. Choosing to just throw a gun in your car without being responsible enough to get training is just foolish. Don’t be that guy Second, invest in safe storage if you choose to arm yourself. Get a safe. Use a trigger or cable lock. Do whatever it takes to keep weapons out of the hands of people who shouldn’t have one. If you’re not taking proactive steps to prevent tragedy in your own home, you’re more likely to regret owning a weapon than you are to benefit from it. Final Thoughts Really, the best thing you can do when you see something frightening on the news is to take a few deep breaths and make rational choices. By staying calm, thinking practically, and looking for smart ways to reduce risk, you can actually be safer. Featured image: a screenshot from a video of the Twin Falls shooting fair use, commentary . Sign up for CleanTechnica's Weekly Substack for Zach and Scott's in-depth analyses and high level summaries https://cleantechnica.substack.com/subscribe , sign up for our daily newsletter https://mailchi.mp/cleantechnica/daily-newsletter , and follow us on Google News https://news.google.com/publications/CAAqLQgKIidDQklTRndnTWFoTUtFV05zWldGdWRHVmphRzVwWTJFdVkyOXRLQUFQAQ Have a tip for CleanTechnica? Want to advertise? Want to suggest a guest for our CleanTech Talk podcast? Contact us here https://cleantechnica.com/contact/ . Sign up for our daily newsletter for 15 new cleantech stories a day https://mailchi.mp/cleantechnica/daily-newsletter . Or sign up for our weekly one on top stories of the week https://mailchi.mp/cleantechnica/weekly-newsletter if daily is too frequent. CleanTechnica uses affiliate links. See our policy here https://cleantechnica.com/cleantechnica-editorial-ethics/ . CleanTechnica's Comment Policy https://cleantechnica.com/cleantechnica-comment-policy/