State Farm to Remove EV Charging Stations from Parking Garages Nationwide Over Fire Safety Concerns

State Farm is set to remove electric vehicle (EV) charging stations from its parking garages across the U.S., citing fire safety concerns as the main factor behind the decision. The Illinois-based insurer, known for its extensive coverage range, informed employees that it would seek alternative solutions for EV-charging access and plans to share updates on these options once finalized.

The decision, first reported by local media outlet WGLT, impacts State Farm’s headquarters in Bloomington, Illinois, along with numerous satellite offices nationwide. State Farm has set October 28 as the deadline for the removal, giving employees less than a month to find alternative charging solutions.

State Farm emphasized the move as a matter of workplace safety, saying, “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. 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.”

According to additional comments provided to 25 News, the company said, “Charging stations that are currently housed within our parking garages will be closing. Plans are in place to explore alternative charging locations outside of parking garages, including the possibility for EV parking. We will announce relevant updates as these plans are finalized.”

The move follows an increasing awareness of fire risks associated with EV batteries, which, when ignited, can present significant firefighting challenges. While EV fires are statistically less frequent than those in traditional gasoline or hybrid vehicles, confined parking spaces can heighten the risks, as closed areas are more prone to smoke accumulation and intense heat, potentially endangering the building structure.

Whether other companies will follow suit remains uncertain, but as the largest U.S. provider of property, casualty, and auto insurance, State Farm’s actions may influence industry trends in EV infrastructure planning.