A Tesla charging station in Osoyoos has been wrecked by someone who filled the unit and connector with insulation spray foam rendering the unit useless.
Osoyoos resident Jasmine King noticed the vandalism at the Tesla charging stations located at 8513 74th Avenue. She believes the vandalism is motivated by a hate for electric vehicles.
“It definitely is frustrating, the lengths people go through to show hatred towards EVs — we’ve seen some cut before,” said King.
“I know a lot of people are very upset over electric vehicles which is beyond me because it’s a car, but let’s not ruin it for others,” she added. Only one of the charging stations in Osoyoos was vandalized but that means one less station is available. King notified Tesla of the damage.
The federal government announced last year that it is phasing out new gas-powered vehicles by 2035. The Alberta government, where the economy is dependent on oil and gas, said it is doing everything in its legal jurisdiction to fight the federal government on the ban.
Tesla has set up charging stations in Osoyoos, at the Coast Hotel in Oliver and Penticton in the Riverside Drive shopping centre. It’s not known if charging stations in Penticton have been vandalized.
READ MORE: Tesla charging stations now open for travellers in Osoyoos