California is rapidly transitioning to electric vehicles (EVs) as part of its efforts to decarbonize the transportation sector. However, the state is highly vulnerable to extreme weather events, including wildfires, floods, and earthquakes. Between 2017 and 2019, more than one million residents were ordered to evacuate due to wildfires alone. Such large-scale emergencies can disrupt the power grid, causing blackouts that limit EV charging availability. In the worst-case scenario, insufficient charging infrastructure and limited access to power could hinder the safe evacuation of EV users, particularly in situations requiring rapid departure. This highlights the urgent need for robust planning strategies to integrate EVs into emergency response frameworks.

This talk will first introduce decision-aid tools designed to assist communities and government officials in planning EV-based evacuations. Our tool provides recommendations for mobile charging placement, congestion-aware routing, and recharging strategies aimed at minimizing evacuation time. The second part of the presentation will focus on fast EV charging strategies during emergencies. These strategies are designed to reduce charging time while ensuring electro-chemical and thermal safety of battery-based EVs.