Tackling Cable Theft in Ultra-Fast EV Charging: A Collective Industry Response

Tackling Cable Theft in Ultra-Fast EV Charging: A Collective Industry Response

Cable theft at ultra-fast charging stations is rapidly becoming a major and persistent challenge for Charge Point Operators (CPOs), investors, and the wider EV industry. What was once a sporadic issue has now escalated into an endemic problem, affecting infrastructure, financial stability, and—most critically—EV drivers who rely on these charging locations.

Beyond the financial losses, insurance complexities, and costly downtime for CPOs, cable theft creates real disruption for EV drivers. Arriving at a charging station only to find it vandalized and out of action undermines confidence in the EV ecosystem and slows the transition to electrified transport.

A Collaborative Industry Approach Is Needed

Tackling this issue requires a united and proactive response from hardware manufacturers, landlords, law enforcement, and policymakers. It is imperative that:

• Hardware manufacturers innovate and deploy theft-resistant solutions.
• Landlords enhance site security measures and consider deterrents.
• Law enforcement and the courts take cable theft more seriously, ensuring adequate consequences for offenders.
• CPOs and investors share data and report incidents to build a clearer picture of targeted locations.

Taking the Initiative: An Industry-Wide Reporting Platform

At The EV Network, we are taking the initiative by creating a central reporting platform for all CPOs affected by cable theft. By reporting incidents via the below link, we can build a collective database to highlight crime hotspots, strengthen industry lobbying efforts, and provide evidence to law enforcement and policymakers to take decisive action.

Time for Action

The EV industry cannot afford to be reactive—we must be vocal and demand meaningful solutions to protect critical charging infrastructure. We invite CPOs, manufacturers, landlords, and other stakeholders to contribute their experiences, insights, and ideas. Together, we can drive change and ensure that EV charging remains reliable, accessible, and secure.

We welcome your thoughts—let’s take action together.

Report Cable Theft