EV owners warned to plan ahead for bushfire season
An experienced EV driver is warning new owners to plan ahead for bushfire season after he struggled to find power during an evacuation. Authorities are urging drivers in rural areas to keep their vehicles charged as part of their emergency preparedness.
Why it matters
As EV adoption grows, infrastructure and emergency planning must adapt to ensure safety during natural disasters.
This fast charger was a lifesaving stop for holidaymaker Nigel Raynard in his rented EV on a trip to WA in January 2026. ( Supplied: Nigel Raynard )
An experienced EV driver found himself in a bushfire zone with a dwindling battery.
Nigel Raynard wants new EV owners to learn from his mistake.
Fire authorities want all car owners in rural and regional areas to have their vehicles fuelled up during the bushfire season.
Link copied Share Share article Earlier this year, experienced EV owner Nigel Raynard found himself in a town under bushfire evacuation orders with less than 15 per cent charge in his car battery.
The owner of the EV chauffeur service in northern New South Wales was on holiday in January and found himself in the path of the Boddington fire, south of Perth.
"The Tesla was telling me to turn around," he said.
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