Can EV Charging Cables Be Stolen?

Concerned about the security of your EV charging cables? This guide offers insights and practical solutions to prevent theft.

We understand the inconvenience and costs of such thefts and aim to help you protect your investment.

Leveraging our industry knowledge, we explore safety measures, the impacts of cable theft, and potential innovations.

As EV enthusiasts, we share your concerns and offer clear advice for a secure charging experience. Let’s navigate this journey together.

At a Glance:
1️⃣ The replacement cost of EV charging cables is approximately $500.

2️⃣ They are easier to steal and convert into money by selling the copper components or reselling the unit through a platform like eBay or Facebook Marketplace.

3️⃣ Some charging stations deploy ‘tethered’ or fixed cables that are supposed to be more difficult to steal (Tesla Superchargers use this method). Unfortunately, many are ‘universal’ with no tethering facility.

Safety Measures To Prevent Theft

The safety measures available to owners are relatively limited and, unfortunately, are not foolproof. 

The best way to view the problem is to make it more difficult to steal your cables, making the thieves look elsewhere for easier pickings.

Choose Where You Charge Your EV

The best protection against theft of your charging cables is to charge your EV locked in the garage. Unfortunately, there are circumstances where this is not possible. To minimize the risk of theft, it’s important to consider the best location for your EV charger in the garage.

1. You may live in a multiunit dwelling with shared parking
2. The EV requires charging away from home.

As a result, you must find a way to secure the charging chord.

Locking Mechanisms

Several locking products fit over the connectors, and the cable handles lock the cable.

Tethered Locking Plugs

Some charging cables use a cable-locking system. Several charges use cables available with a smart cable locking system that can be activated with a smartphone.

These only work if the thieves want to resell a working cable. If they intend to strip it for copper, they have few qualms about cutting the cord and leaving the plugs behind.

Use A Padlock

Sometimes to foil the most advanced thieves, a simple padlock fits the bill.

One option is to purchase a chain (with a plastic sleeve) and feed it through the charging cable and the wheel spokes. Attach the padlock by passing it through the hole in the plastic sleeve. It can then be locked and secured.

The second option is to use a long shackle padlock. Insert it through the hole in the EV charging cable plug or into the trigger.

Anti-Theft Alarms

You could install an alarm that is motion activated, which will pick up movement around your EV.  Unfortunately, in reality, after several false alarms caused by animals, falling leaves, or innocent passersby, the alarm is often ignored.

The thieves only need a second to steal the cable, and they get away quickly. It is almost impossible to respond fast enough to an alarm.

Use A Dashcam Or CCTV

Although having a dashcam or CCTV system will not prevent the charging cable from being stolen, if the perpetrators walk into the field of view, at least you will be able to identify them.

Impact Of Cable Theft On The Vehicle Owner

The impact of a charging cable being stolen is twofold.

It Is Inconvenient

Waking up in the morning to find that your EV charging cable has been stolen is inconvenient on several levels.

1. It leaves you with an uncharged (or partly charged) EV.
2. You have to get a costly same-day replacement.
3. You realize the need to find a way to secure the cable -this costs time and money.

Your Insurance Policy May Not Cover The Charging Cable

Unless you have specified the charging system on your insurance policy (car or household cover), the replacement cost may be within your policy deductible, leaving you with the financial burden of replacing it.

Before it is too late, find out from your insurance provider what your insurance coverage is and how much the deductible (excess) is.

Potential Solutions And Best Practices

The reality is that unless the vehicle is in a locked garage, it is impossible to develop a foolproof solution that prevents the charging cable from being stolen.

Despite this, there are measures you can take to reduce the risk of theft.

Portable Charging Stations

Using a portable charging system with a tethering protocol will reduce the potential theft risk (as long as the thieves don’t cut the cable).

This means you do not need to use public chargers with greater risks. Understanding how to use EV charging stations properly can help prevent cable theft.

Secure Parking Areas

If you do not have a garage at home, park away from the street, where it is difficult for passersby to see what you are doing. If your EV charger is installed outside, it may be more vulnerable to theft.

Industry Innovations To Deter Theft

If launched, several technologies are being developed to improve the charging experience.

Charging Pads

Charging pads (wireless inductive charging systems) are the most logical technology to prevent cables from being stolen. The EV is parked over the pad, and the charging process is started.

The technology is viable and already offered for some home base EV chargers. If the charging pads are installed at a public charging station, they will eliminate the theft of cables.

Charging Roads

Cornell University has been working on an in-transit charging system for several years. The process involves the following.

• Battery charging lanes are installed in the existing road network.
• A series of induction plates were installed into the pavement.
• As the car drives over the charging plates, the battery receives power. 

Several trial studies are being conducted worldwide.

Fast Charging

Several research programs are underway and, if successful, will ultimately reduce charging time by an order of magnitude that will match charging speed with filling a car’s gas tank.

One way to prevent theft is by using lockable EV chargers. Practicing good EV charging etiquette can help ensure that charging cables are not left in a position where they can be easily stolen.”

Key Takeaways

1️⃣ EV charging cables are a prime target for thieves due to their high replacement cost and the ease of selling their components.

2️⃣ Safety measures to prevent theft include using locking mechanisms, tethered locking plugs, padlocks, anti-theft alarms, and CCTV systems.

3️⃣ The impact of cable theft on vehicle owners is significant, causing inconvenience, financial loss, and potential lack of insurance coverage.

Potential solutions to reduce the risk of theft include using portable charging stations, parking in secure areas, and leveraging industry innovations.

Industry innovations being developed to deter theft include charging pads and in-transit charging systems. Charging pads are already offered for some home base EV chargers, and Cornell University is working on an in-transit charging system.