UW Research Survey: EV Wildfire Evacuation Experience
Students at the University of Washington are performs a survey about how driving an battery electric vehicle is effected by wildfires and ability to evacuate. Following is the information from the students abou the survey.
As wildfire season draws to a close across the Pacific Northwest, our hearts go out to the neighbors, families, and communities who have endured the stress of evacuations, hazardous smoke, and the disruption of daily life. The safety and well-being of our community are at the center of everything we do.
These events highlighted an urgent planning challenge: the operational viability of Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) when power shutoffs, sudden corridor closures, and charging infrastructure failures intersect. To help protect our communities in future emergencies, researchers at the University of Washington are conducting a formal study on EV user behavior, charging decisions, and routing dynamics during recent wildfire events.
Are you eligible?
We are exclusively seeking input from Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) drivers who are primary or seasonal residents in the following Washington counties: Asotin, Grant, Benton, Spokane, Stevens, Douglas, Lincoln, Ferry, Skamania, Yakima, Kittitas, Okanogan, Chelan, or Klickitat.
Note: If you already filled out this survey during our first round, thank you! Please do not submit another response. To maintain the scientific integrity of the study, our system automatically flags and removes duplicate entries.
The Details:
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Time: ~25 minutes.
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Incentive: Complete the survey to enter a drawing for four $50 gift cards and ten $20 gift cards. (Note: Additional gift cards may become available later; this post will be updated if the reward pool expands).
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Deadline: December 15, 2026.
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Official UW Survey Link: https://uwashington.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_e3QtLbUuPaTdDmu
This survey does not collect identifiable tracking data. Your real-world experience is critical to helping the state prioritize emergency charging infrastructure and improve wildfire resilience for EV owners.
