A Tesla Supercharger station’s storage cabinet reportedly malfunctioned and exploded on the previous evening in Washington state. It’s thought that a small explosive device was responsible for the blast. The investigation is being conducted jointly by local authorities and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
A Tesla Supercharger station in Lacey, Washington, has been temporarily shut down after an explosion occurred at the facility that supplies power to the charging stalls.
The FBI and local authorities are probing the situation following reports of a potential bombing incident.
Tesla weighs in on current developments with a statement on X.
As we accompany the Lacey Police and FBI teams, we’re currently analyzing digital camera footage in real-time. Additionally, we are working closely with Puget Sound Vitality to expedite the repair and reactivation of the Superchargers at the earliest possible opportunity. Don’t mess with important infrastructure.
Puget Sound Energy is the primary electricity provider that powers the Supercharger stations.
The Lacey Police Department issued a statement addressing the current situation.
At precisely 1:34 this morning, police units were swiftly deployed in response to multiple complaints about an unceasing racket emanating from a specific area. On arrival at 665 Sleater Kinney RD SE, officers discovered that the electric vehicle charging station had been intentionally damaged.
The authorities have officially acknowledged the FBI’s heightened concerns regarding this matter.
Protests have been a regular occurrence outside Tesla locations globally for two months now, with a significant focus on US sites. Many people perceive these demonstrations as justified calls to boycott Tesla, driven by resentment towards Elon Musk’s perceived use of the company as a personal piggy bank to finance Trump and fuel what they see as an alarming rise in fascism within the United States?
Violent protests against Tesla have unfolded, featuring attacks on the company’s properties, including damaged facilities, torched vehicles, and compromised charging infrastructure.
While local authorities typically handle such incidents, it’s noteworthy that the FBI has increasingly become involved in investigating domestic cases since its inception.
The President and his Attorney General have labelled any acts of vandalism targeting Tesla, a company under the leadership of Elon Musk, a major political supporter of the President, as “domestic terrorism” in an effort to shift investigations into the jurisdiction of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has acknowledged the existence of an initiative dedicated specifically to investigating incidents of vandalism targeting Tesla property.
Electrek’s Take
The seeming inconsistency between Trump’s actions towards Tesla and US government property has raised suspicions: with a reported $250 million in political donations from Elon Musk, did his administration prioritize the protection of Tesla assets over that of the Capitol Building? This disparity is particularly striking given Trump’s pardon of January 6 insurrectionists.
The recent surge in anti-Muslim rhetoric and xenophobic sentiments may inadvertently fuel the fire of extremism, but let’s not hastily label these heinous acts as homegrown terrorism without concrete evidence.
They’re enjoying to their hand.
We unequivocally reject and denounce any violent or destructive acts directed at Tesla or its possessions. If your intention is to harm Tesla’s reputation, peaceful protests and boycotts are already yielding undesirable consequences for the company. The violence is counterproductive.
This must cease. Someone may resort to taking drastic measures and perpetrating harm on themselves or others sooner rather than later.
