{"id":2391127,"date":"2025-01-16T11:49:02","date_gmt":"2025-01-16T16:49:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/los-angeles-fires-expose-serious-downside-of-electric-vehicles\/"},"modified":"2025-01-16T11:50:17","modified_gmt":"2025-01-16T16:50:17","slug":"los-angeles-fires-expose-serious-downside-of-electric-vehicles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/los-angeles-fires-expose-serious-downside-of-electric-vehicles\/","title":{"rendered":"Los Angeles Fires Expose Serious Downside of Electric Vehicles"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Flos-angeles-fires-expose-serious-downside-of-electric-vehicles%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2391127&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>In the\u2064 wake of wildfires raging through the greater Los Angeles \u2062area, many residents\u200d are facing challenges with\u200c their electric vehicles \u200b(EVs), prompting\u200d some to consider selling them. as emergency evacuations continue, \u2063with over 82,000 people currently under \u200devacuation orders, the need for effective transportation has \u2062become critical. EV owners are\u200b particularly concerned about their cars being undercharged, especially as power \u200ccompanies \u2063are shutting off electricity to\u2064 minimize fire risks, \u2062potentially leading to long lines at charging stations during a crisis.<\/p>\n<p>Comments from residents \u200bhighlight\u200b frustrations with EVs \u2064compared to\u2062 conventional gas-powered\u200b cars, which allow\u2063 for more flexible driving and refueling options. \u200dFor instance, attorney Matthew Butterick expressed concerns about the limitations \u200cof EV charging infrastructure during evacuations. Similarly, Val Cipollone from Berkeley is contemplating \u2063switching from her electric Nissan Leaf to a hybrid, recognizing\u2064 the unpredictable nature of evacuations.<\/p>\n<p>Despite the rising popularity of hybrid vehicles, \u2063some individuals enjoy their electric cars, indicating that they are well-suited \u200cfor certain situations.However,challenges \u2063like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/californias-new-zero-emissions-rule-backfires-as-trucking-companies-load-up-on-diesel-rigs-before-deadline\/\" title=\"California&#039;s zero-emissions rule backfires as trucking firms stock up on diesel rigs ahead of deadline.\">limited charging infrastructure<\/a> and the\u200b need for advanced planning resonate with drivers in crisis situations. The situation \u200cunderscores a broader concern that the automotive infrastructure and market may not be adequately prepared for a complete shift to electric vehicles,\u200b particularly as policymakers push \u2062for increased EV adoption amidst\u2063 ongoing environmental disasters.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<section> \t\t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>As wildfires raged across the greater Los Angeles area and forced hundreds of thousands to evacuate over the past week, many residents of California discovered issues with their electric cars, leading some to vow to sell them.<\/p>\n<p>More than a week after the fires began, the Palisades and Eaton fires continue to burn, and there are still over 82,000 people under evacuation orders, per a Wednesday <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/live-updates\/california-fires-winds-updates\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">report<\/a> from CBS News.<\/p>\n<p>But evacuating in an electric vehicle can be a lot more difficult than <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/notoriously-woke-gofundme-skimming-mind-blowing-amount-money-la-fire-donations\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">fleeing<\/a> in a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/pete-buttigieg-cars-are-going-electric-with-or-without-us\/\" title=\"Pete Buttigieg: Electric cars are inevitable.\">traditional gasoline-powered car<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>For starters, utilities in Los Angeles are shutting off power lines to avoid the risks of sparks starting new fires.<\/p>\n<p>That could lead to the terrifying scenario in which a car is only partially charged when the time comes to leave home, meaning the car must be abandoned or the owner must fight for a spot at a charging station sure to be packed with other fleeing Angelenos.<\/p>\n<p> <script type=\"text\/javascript\"> \t\t\tif ( getCookie( \"ff_subbed\" ) ) { \t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"stnvideo\").remove() \t\t\t} \t\t<\/script> <\/p>\n<p>Such were the fears expressed by California residents in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/environment\/story\/2025-01-15\/americans-are-loving-hybrid-cars-evs-not-so-much\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">comments<\/a> to the Los Angeles Times about the crisis.<\/p>\n<p>Matthew Butterick, a Los Angeles attorney, told the outlet that a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/3-recent-failures-of-green-energy-policies\/\" title=\"3 Recent Failures of Green Energy Policies\">gas-powered car<\/a> &ldquo;can evacuate in any direction on any road and still get fuel when needed.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The EV stations on evacuation routes would have massive lines and delays, gasoline stations less so,&rdquo; he predicted.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;And the electric grid may not be available,&rdquo; he added. &ldquo;Power companies turn off power to avoid sparking a fire and also to avoid legal liability. This is probably the future of all the hillside neighborhoods.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Val Cipollone, who lives in Berkeley, owns a fully electric Nissan Leaf with a range of 220 miles. As she watched the disaster unfold a few hundred miles to the south, she voiced a desire to sell her electric vehicle and get a hybrid car instead.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Who knows how far you&rsquo;d have to drive,&rdquo; she told the Times. &ldquo;I used to think I&rsquo;d only need to drive to my place of work. But who knows, I might have to go much farther.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Cipollone indeed said that she cares about buying at least a hybrid, which is &ldquo;a good conscience thing&rdquo; for the environmentally minded Californian, and that she &ldquo;wouldn&rsquo;t feel comfortable&rdquo; buying a gas-powered car.<\/p>\n<p>Edmunds, an <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\">automotive inventory website based<\/a> in California, has found that hybrid vehicle sales are rapidly rising, according to data cited by the Times.<\/p>\n<p>Edmunds analyst Jessica Caldwell noted to the outlet that electric vehicles &ldquo;require a different relationship with your vehicle than people have had before&rdquo; and &ldquo;require a lot more planning,&rdquo; such as establishing a home charger and dealing with longer wait times at charging stations.<\/p>\n<p>Plenty of people enjoy their electric cars, and they are probably fantastic vehicles in some circumstances.<\/p>\n<p>But they are <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/ford-recalls-thousands-electric-vehicles-dangerous-defect-discovered\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">far from perfect<\/a>, and the nascent technology still needs some time to develop.<\/p>\n<p>Even though the sorts of concerns outlined by these Californians are known to policymakers, both President Joe Biden and California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom have <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/ap-biden-harris-administration-announces-billions-handouts-ev-companies\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">dumped money<\/a> into electric vehicle incentives, while the latter has even <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/toyota-president-rains-newsoms-parade-delivers-bad-news-2035-deadline-gas-car-ban\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">passed mandates<\/a> that will eventually end the sale of new <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/californias-state-pension-invests-millions-in-chinese-state-owned-companies\/\" title=\"California\u2019s State Pension Invests Millions in Chinese State-Owned Companies\">gas-powered cars<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>These disasters in Los Angeles merely serve as a reminder that the automotive market is not ready for that sort of shift and that government agencies most certainly cannot force that shift to happen.<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* Name<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* <\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<label>* Message<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t<textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\"> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> \t\t<script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey==typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts={ \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs=[ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i=0; i <inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! ( opts[inputs[i]]=document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"' + inputs[i] + '\"]' ).value ) ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .required-message' ).style.display='block'; \t\t\t\t\t\treturn; \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction input[type=\"submit\"]' ).style.display='none'; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).src=firefly_loading_gif_url; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).style.display='inline-block';  \t\t\t\t\tconsole.log( 'ma subbing' );  \t\t\t\t\tif( firefly_post_id ) opts['post_id']=firefly_post_id;  \t\t\t\t\t\/* Send the data using post with element id name and name2*\/ \t\t\t\t\tvar posting=jQuery.post( firefly_ajax_url, opts );  \t\t\t\t\t\/* Alerts the results *\/ \t\t\t\t\tposting.done( function( response ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tif( response.success ) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.log( response.data ); \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).style.display='none'; \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-confirm' ).style.display='block';  \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdataLayer.push( { 'event': 'submit-correction' } ); \t\t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t} \t\t<\/script> \t     \t\t\t\t\t\t     \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p style=\"border: 1px solid #f5f5f5; padding: 16px;\">Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/advertise-us\/?wj_source=article\">Advertise Today<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><script>console.log(\"ad slot (BA1)\")<\/script> \t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<style> \t\t\t \t\t\t.insticator-unit.type-commenting{margin: 0 10px 25px 10px}@media screen and (max-width:1060px){#div-insticator-ad-cmt-1, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-2, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-3, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-4{margin: 0 auto 25px auto !important;}}#div-insticator-ad-cmt-1, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-2, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-3, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-4{height: 280px !important; width: 336px !important} \t\t<\/style>\n<div class=\"insticator-unit type-commenting\">\n<div class=\"insticator-ads\"> \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t<script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\"> \t\t\t\t\tif ( ! getCookie( \"ff_subbed\" ) ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tInsticator.ad.loadAd(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-1\"); \t\t\t\t\t\tInsticator.ad.loadAd(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-2\"); \t\t\t\t\t} else { \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-1\").remove() \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-2\").remove() \t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t<\/script> \t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"insticator-ads additional\"> \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t<script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\"> \t\t\t\t\tif ( ! getCookie( \"ff_subbed\" ) ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tInsticator.ad.loadAd(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-3\"); \t\t\t\t\t\tInsticator.ad.loadAd(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-4\"); \t\t\t\t\t} else { \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-3\").remove() \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-4\").remove() \t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t<\/script> \t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As wildfires swept through the greater Los Angeles area, prompting mass evacuations, many Californians faced problems with their electric vehicles, prompting some to consider selling them. Over a week into the fires, which include the ongoing Palisades and Eaton blazes, more than 82,000 individuals remain under evacuation orders according to CBS News. Evacuating in an electric vehicle poses unique challenges compared to traditional gasoline cars. For instance, utility companies in Los Angeles are shutting off power lines to prevent new fires from igniting. This situation could leave drivers with partially charged cars when it&#8217;s time to evacuate, forcing them either to abandon their vehicles or compete for limited charging stations filled with other evacuees.<\/p>\n<p>Residents expressed these concerns in comments to the Los Angeles Times. Attorney Matthew Butterick noted that gas-powered cars can refuel easily and travel in any direction without worrying about charging infrastructure: \u201cThe EV stations on evacuation routes would have massive lines and delays,\u201d he said. Val Cipollone from Berkeley owns a fully electric Nissan Leaf but is now considering switching to a hybrid due to uncertainty about future travel distances during emergencies.<\/p>\n<p>Data from Edmunds indicates that hybrid vehicle sales are increasing rapidly as people recognize that electric vehicles require more planning and different usage patterns than traditional cars. While many enjoy their electric vehicles under normal circumstances, they still face limitations as technology evolves.<\/p>\n<p>Despite these concerns being acknowledged by policymakers like President Biden and California Governor Gavin Newsom\u2014who have invested heavily in electric vehicle incentives\u2014the recent disasters highlight that the automotive market may not be ready for such a significant transition away from gas-powered vehicles at this time<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2391128,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Palisades-Fire-6.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[13784,33451,33565,5231,36585],"class_list":["post-2391127","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-climate-change","tag-electric-vehicles","tag-environmental-impact","tag-fires","tag-los-angeles"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Palisades-Fire-6.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2391127","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2391127"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2391127\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2391131,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2391127\/revisions\/2391131"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2391128"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2391127"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2391127"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2391127"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}