However, not everyone is as excited about the transition from gas-powered to electric vehicles, and some people have even taken it upon themselves to vandalize EV charging stations to make their point. EV drivers are furious; one even said, “They need to make this a federal offense.”

Therefore, each charging spot is absolutely necessary to ensure that the millions of EV drivers have the opportunity to charge their cars when they need to.

One of the most common ways drivers are “ruining” EV charging stations is by parking their gas cars (which obviously don’t need to be charged) in one of the coveted spots. While this may seem like a harmless crime, it takes the spot away from an EV driver who may desperately need to charge to get where they need to go.

In fact, earlier this year, 63 EV charging cables were cut in Minneapolis alone. This form of vandalism does nothing except endanger EV drivers who are counting on those stations to ensure they have enough power in their vehicles.

Depending on the quality of the wire and how much they get, reselling the copper wiring stolen from within just one charging station would only mean a couple of hundred dollars for the burglar. So the question remains: Why are people destroying and blocking EV stations for little or no personal gain?

The destruction of EV charging stations is meant to make a statement: Americans don’t want to transition from gas-powered to electric vehicles.

However, some Republicans, including former president and 2024 candidate Donald Trump, argue that Biden’s EV mandate is not only anti-American but could also be extremely detrimental to the economy.

Coal-rolling, i.e., driving closely past EV drivers, pedestrians, or cyclists, while releasing toxic fumes from their cars has become increasingly common around the country.

Over 50 of the 88 charging stations have been vandalized in Fresno, CA, and five were destroyed in Houston, Texas, just last month. In fact, hundreds of pumps have been destroyed across the country in 2024. And that doesn’t even include the other crimes like blocking the stations or coal-rolling.

Coal rolling is only illegal in six states, and blocking an EV station is only considered a civil infraction. Destroying an EV pump is illegal, but it’s not a federal offense and some states are far more lenient than others.

Another noted, “This is nothing short of an attack on America’s critical transportation infrastructure. Copper thieves and vandals need to be arrested and prosecuted with severe felony charges. It’s just a relatively few perpetrators but they do severe damage and prison is where they need to be.”

There is no doubt that electric vehicles can help save the planet we live on; fighting against them won’t help anyone. But sadly, that truth won’t stop people from destroying EV stations in the name of politics, only cracking down on the prosecution of these crimes will do that.