Did you know nearly 20% of public EV charging attempts fail because vandals are stealing copper cables?
At a Glance
- Vandals targeting copper cause a 20% failure rate in public EV charging attempts.
- ChargePoint’s CEO Rick Wilmer addresses vandalism issues in San Jose labs.
- Law enforcement and technological solutions are emerging to combat these thefts.
- EV charging reliability is critical for the broader adoption of electric vehicles.
Copper Theft Plagues EV Chargers Nationwide
Vandals targeting copper are wreaking havoc on electric vehicle (EV) charging stations across the United States. This profiteering vandalism leads to substantial damage and an alarming 20% failure rate in public charging attempts due to damaged or missing cables. Thieves, enticed by the rising value of copper, cut cords and steal cables, compromising essential infrastructure at a crucial moment for EV adoption.
Did you need ANOTHER reason to skip an electric vehicle and go for a regular, old-fashioned…car?
ChargePoint’s Response to Vandalism
Rick Wilmer, CEO of ChargePoint Holdings Inc., is taking the lead in combating vandalism.
Regular visits to the San Jose lab allow him to test vandalism scenarios and develop countermeasures. His goal, he says, is to ensure the reliability of their extensive EV charging network. “It’s all over the country,” Wilmer says. “The types of stuff we’ve seen happen is just horrifying in terms of the way they go about it and how frequently it happens.”
The Economics of Copper Theft
One of the primary drivers behind this surge in vandalism is the skyrocketing price of copper, which has roughly doubled since early 2020. Thieves often work in organized groups, sometimes even posing as utility workers to avoid suspicion. Despite the relatively low financial return for the thieves, the cost to replace cables and repair the damaged stations is significant, putting a strain on ecosystems already working hard to promote EV adoption.
Companies such as ChargePoint and Electrify America are heavily investing in new technology to mitigate vandalism. Automated surveillance, advanced monitoring systems, and user-driven incident reporting are some of the innovative solutions being deployed. FLO, another player in the industry, is testing chargers with internal cameras to detect and deter vandals proactively.
Vandalism is “front and center for us and has been really since the start of the year,” says Anthony Lambkin, Vice President of Operations at Electrify America.
So, do you still want that Tesla?
