State Farm Insurance is removing electric vehicle charging stations from its parking decks at Corporate and Corporate South headquarters in Bloomington, and at its hubs throughout the nation.
State Farm is removing electric vehicle charging stations from its parking decks at Corporate and Corporate South headquarters in Bloomington, and at its hubs throughout the nation.
The move is effective as of Oct. 28, according to a message sent to company employees.
“While we understand the impact to those who rely on EV charging, it is our top priority to ensure a safe and secure working environment for our employees.” states the message. “Following an Enterprise Risk Assessment and evaluations conducted by local fire departments and workplace protection in each hub and corporate headquarters, fire risks were identified in the parking garages that cannot be mitigated at this time.”
The company told workers it will consider plans for “alternative charging locations outside of parking garages, including the possibility for EV parking.”
“Construction projects are being explored at corporate headquarters and the Illinois Operations Center to install EV chargers in available surface lots where fire safety risks to other vehicles and structures are minimized,” said the company in the message.
There are several studies that note fires in electric vehicles occur in the U.S. at a much lower rate than they do for gasoline-powered vehicles. The studies also record that when EV fires do happen, they tend to cost more than ones in gasoline-powered vehicles.
EV battery fires tend to burn hotter and may be more difficult to put out than standard vehicle fires.
State Farm is not saying much about the level of risk the company assesses and, in a statement requested by WGLT, the company largely repeated its message to workers.
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