[UPDATE] UW Research: EV Wildfire Evacuation Study for WA State Drivers (Deadline Extended to Dec 15, 2026)
Hello r/LewistonID,
UPDATE (August 20, 2026): This study has been officially extended to December 15, 2026. Thank you to everyone from Washington who has participated so far!
As we navigate another intense wildfire season, my thoughts are with everyone—especially our community in the Pacific Northwest—who has been impacted by fires, smoke, or the stress of evacuation.
The severity of these recent fires underscores a critical challenge for our community: ensuring that EV drivers can evacuate safely and efficiently when power grids are shut off and charging infrastructure is compromised. To help address this, I am a PhD student at the University of Washington conducting an official study on how EV drivers respond to these exact emergency constraints. (The moderation team has kindly granted me permission to share this research with you).
Are you eligible? Because this study focuses on specific grid and geographical constraints, 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 so much! Please do not submit another response. To maintain the scientific integrity of the study, our system automatically flags and removes duplicate entries.
The Details:
- Time: ~25 minutes.
- 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).
- New Deadline: December 15, 2026.
- 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.
If you have any questions, please contact me directly at ychu24@uw.edu. Stay safe, and thank you for your time.
Yu-Chen Chu, PhD Student, University of Washington
Academic Profile: https://sites.uw.edu/urbdpphd/people/students