Copper Thieves Target Public EV Charging Cables Amid Rising Metal Prices

Coverage reveals that bulky cables at public electric vehicle charging stations have become a prime target for theft due to their copper content, as per the Associated Press.

Power cords are comprised of significant amounts of copper, which is currently reaching unprecedented price levels. Operators of charging stations are witnessing a surge in the number of cables being snipped and stolen, as per reports by the AP.

Approximately two years prior, Electrify America observed an incident involving a severed cable at its facilities semi-annually. However, as of May this year, there have been 129 instances of cable vandalism, surpassing the total for the previous year by four, the report reveals. Anthony Lambkin, the Vice President of Operations at Electrify America, shared with the AP that a particular charging station in Seattle experienced cable cutting on six occasions over the last twelve months.

2023 Toyota bZ4X spotted at an EVgo charging point

The news story distributed by AP's verified profile on the platform previously known as Twitter was echoed by Electrify America, who commented that there's a growing trend of cable theft at electric vehicle (EV) charging stations. They expressed their determination to work closely with the police to tackle this problem promptly.

Flo and EVgo have similarly experienced an increase in theft incidents, and copper robbers have targeted Tesla charging stations too, the AP report indicated. Authorities in the Houston region informed the AP that at a particular Tesla station, wrongdoers made off with 18 out of 19 charging cables.

Copper values soared to an unprecedented peak, approaching $5.20 towards the end of May, marking an approximately 25% surge from the previous year, with experts anticipating a continued upward trend, as reported by the AP. However, companies responsible for charging services claim their cables contain minimal copper—estimated between $15 to $20 worth per cable—and the extraction process for the metal is not straightforward. Subsequently, this metal typically finds its way to salvage yards, where it's challenging to ascertain if it originated from a tampered charging cord, the report indicates.

Recharging Tesla

For similar reasons that made hybrids a prime target for theft years back – due to their catalytic converters containing more platinum, rhodium, and palladium to handle the engines' constant starting – Prius drivers once had the added concern of having their batteries stolen.

Operators of electric vehicle charging stations are dealing with disgruntled customers and hefty costs for repairs. The city of Minneapolis has incurred a $1,000 expense for the replacement of a single cable at their public charging stations due to vandalism, as indicated in the report.

2022 Hyundai IONIQ 5 hooked up at an Electrify America DC rapid-charging outlet.

Currently, businesses involved in charging infrastructure and law enforcement agencies are implementing measures to protect against the theft of cables. Electrify America is amplifying its surveillance network, while Houston's police force is intensifying their inspections of scrapyards in search of illicit copper, as per the recent findings. Additionally, advancements in technology may also offer a solution.

Utilizing 800-volt charging systems allows for the use of slimmer cables that don't require as much cooling, which can reduce expenses at the charger and cable level. Charging providers are striving to deliver quicker charging solutions that don't rely on thicker cables, which has led to the development of some creative cooling techniques. Moreover, the adoption of wireless charging can potentially reduce the dependence on heavy copper cables, although it comes with a higher price tag.

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