Tesla Supercharger shooting sparks EV charging safety debate

A gunman opened fire at a crowd outside a newly opened In-N-Out in Twin Falls, Idaho, on August 1, where a Tesla Supercharger sat in the same lot. Three people were killed and several injured, including a driver charging a Tesla who survived. Videos circulated online and sparked an EV charging safety debate, with some owners sharing a device known as an “EVject” or “Escape Connector,” a $299 breakaway adapter designed to let drivers pull away without unplugging. The article argues the connector doesn’t solve the underlying problem: during a fast, chaotic attack, drivers may not have time to use escape procedures. It also notes Tesla previously sued EVject in 2024 over safety concerns about overheating; EVject later updated the design with thermal protection, and Tesla dropped the suit.