Electric vehicles (EVs) are rapidly growing in popularity, but their support infrastructure—charging stations—has become a new target for vandalism. Across the U.S., thieves are vandalizing EV chargers, primarily seeking to steal copper, a valuable metal embedded in charging cables. This costly and increasingly common problem is putting strain on charging networks like ChargePoint and others that are trying to meet the demands of the growing EV market.
Rick Wilmer, CEO of ChargePoint Holdings Inc., occasionally finds himself in his company’s San Jose laboratory, donning safety glasses and testing chargers by cutting into them. This unconventional exercise mirrors the vandalism affecting the company’s 65,000 U.S. charging cords. The frequency and severity of these thefts have increased significantly, with copper thieves at the heart of the issue.
The impact of copper theft on the EV charging industry is immense. JD Power reports that nearly 20% of public charging attempts in the U.S. ended in failure in the first half of 2024, with 10% of those failures caused by damaged or missing cables. While some of the vandalism can be dismissed as random destruction, much of it has a clear profit motive. Copper has become a prized commodity, and charging stations—often tucked away in quiet, unattended locations—are an easy target.
Why Copper?
Copper is crucial in a wide array of industries, including construction and technology. Its price has steadily risen, nearly doubling since early 2020. With an increasing demand for copper and its relatively easy accessibility in charging cables, thieves have targeted charging stations as a source of quick income.
A typical Level 2 charging cable contains around five pounds of copper, translating to roughly $21 at current market prices. While this might not seem like a significant amount, large-scale thefts are organized and frequent, with some groups of thieves stealing entire batches of cables from a single station. Level 3 fast-charging cords contain even more copper, making them even more attractive to thieves.
Yet the financial reward pales in comparison to the risk, as these cables are costly to replace. A Level 2 cord can cost as much as $700, while a Level 3 conduit may run up to $4,000. For charging station operators, this level of theft quickly becomes a financial drain.
An Industry Under Siege
Vandalism is not just a problem for ChargePoint. Other major charging companies, such as Electrify America and FLO, have also reported significant upticks in vandalism this year. Electrify America has seen a near tripling of vandalized cords compared to the previous year, with 215 cords damaged so far in 2024. FLO has experienced similar incidents, with seven of its fast-charging cords cut in just one week. The situation is especially severe in urban areas like Las Vegas, Seattle, and Oakland, where copper theft is more prevalent.
Some groups of thieves are highly organized, cutting every cord at a station and even extracting copper wiring from underground conduits. EVgo, another major player in the U.S. charging network, has surveillance footage of criminals wearing uniforms to pose as utility workers.
The sheer scale of copper theft has prompted calls for stronger law enforcement intervention, but the industry is also looking for its own solutions. Companies are developing technological safeguards to reduce vandalism costs and speed up repairs. FLO, for instance, has introduced sensors that can detect when a cord has been cut, and ChargePoint has updated its app to allow drivers to report damaged stations immediately.
How ChargEasy Can Help
ChargEasy is an innovative solution that can help EV drivers stay ahead of these issues! With ChargEasy’s app, drivers can easily search for nearby charging stations, making it simpler to find an alternative if a vandalized or damaged charger leaves them stranded. This feature ensures that even in areas where charging infrastructure is affected by
copper theft, you’re never too far from another operational charger, reducing frustration and downtime, getting you where you need to go faster.
Additionally, becoming a charging host through ChargEasy offers another layer of convenience and security. Homeowners with EV chargers can make passive income by listing their home chargers for public use, setting rates, and choosing specific times when their chargers are available. This flexibility means that while you’re home during the day, perhaps tackling household chores, you can provide charging access to others and avoid relying on potentially vandalized public chargers. And as for copper thieves and vandals—beware! Hosting a charger on your own property adds a layer of vigilance, making it much harder for criminals to strike!
Looking Forward
As the EV market continues to expand, maintaining a reliable and functioning charging network is crucial to reducing range anxiety among drivers and encouraging the adoption of electric vehicles. With copper theft and vandalism on the rise, companies are investing heavily in both technological solutions and customer-driven monitoring efforts. While no solution is perfect, the industry remains focused on keeping its charging infrastructure intact and operational.
In the ongoing battle against copper thieves, EV charging companies face an uphill climb. Yet through innovation, collaboration, and investment in security, they are working to stay ahead of the curve and ensure that public charging remains a dependable option for the future of electric driving.
Download & start your profile today at www.chargeasy.org!
~ Bridget Coleman