A Tesla driver's decision to track down a group of suspected vandals sparked conversation about electric vehicle safety — and the obstacles that can slow the shift from gas-powered cars.
In a post on r/TeslaCam, the Model Y Performance owner described how they were supercharging when "a white Ram full of teenagers" pulled up and began "throwing objects at all the Teslas parked." After hearing a "thunk" on their own hood, the driver unplugged and followed the truck to get its license plate number.
The chase turned dangerous. According to the post, the suspects "threw a full water bottle at us and brake checked us" in the rain.
Such incidents aren't just frustrating for EV owners; they can also have consequences for the adoption of cleaner technology.
Vandalism can raise repair costs, increase insurance premiums, and make public charging stations less safe. If fewer people feel comfortable driving or parking an EV in public, it slows the transition away from polluting fuels.
While some critics of EVs point to emissions from battery production and mineral mining, research shows that even cars with the "dirtiest" batteries are cleaner over their lifetimes than gas-powered vehicles. And while we need to extract millions of tons of minerals to build batteries, the fossil fuel industry digs up billions of tons of oil, coal, and gas each year — the very pollution EVs look to replace.
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This is not the first time EV vandalism has been reported. Multiple incidents involving damaged charging cables, graffiti on charging stations, and attacks have been linked to political views about EV makers and fans.
Experts say better education about EV benefits — along with stronger protections at public charging sites — could help curb this kind of behavior.
Commenters on the Reddit thread urged the poster to involve authorities.
"I'm glad you went after them. Get their info. Hand it over to the police. Probably nothing will come of it. But if you have their faces in any of the videos, call a lawyer," one user said.
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Definitely 👍 "If that's a public highway, that's a federal littering charge. Get 'em!" another added.
Vandalism might feel like a small issue, but it adds friction to a transition we can't afford to slow down. Every EV kept on the road — and every charging station kept safe — is another step away from dirty fuels and toward a cleaner future for everyone.
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