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Tackling cable theft at EV charging stations: insights from the CharIN working session

On July 29, 2025, CharIN brought together members for a focused discussion on a growing global challenge: cable theft at EV charging stations. The session featured shared data, technical experiences, and regional perspectives to better understand the scale of the issue and explore potential solutions.

The topic emerged from feedback in the focus group connection and focus group charging infrastructure, where CPOs, cable manufacturers, and EVSE manufacturers raised concerns about the increasing frequency of theft. Presentations from ABB, Amphenol, and ChargePoint, along with contributions from members across North America and Europe, helped examine how the problem is evolving and where collective action could make a difference.

CharIN advanced the conversation by distributing a short global survey to its members. The findings, presented during the session, revealed the widespread and often severe nature of the issue and provided a foundation for further work.

The session was built on ongoing activities in the Focus Group Charging Infrastructure, with the decision to develop a dedicated subgroup to address the problem further.

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Published on: 08/19/2025

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Findings:

From the discussion, several patterns emerged:

  • Tailored solutions for different stages of the charger’s lifecycle are needed
  • Scale varies: Some operators see isolated incidents, while others face hundreds of thefts annually, especially in urban areas.
  • Most vulnerable moments: Sites are at highest risk during installation and commissioning, before monitoring systems are activated.
  • Motivations: The majority of thefts are linked to copper resale, though connector resale and vandalism also occur.
  • Operational impact: Replacing cables can take 1–7 days, often requiring specialized repair crews and causing extended downtime.
  • Detection gaps: Many units don’t immediately alert operators when cables are cut, particularly when power is off.

Presenters included:

  • Christopher Thompson (ABB)
  • Mariano Rigotti (Amphenol)
  • Bernard Tse and Dennis Heleine (ChargePoint)

Solutions explored:

Hardware/Design innovations

  • Cut-resistant armored or sleeved cables
  • Locking connectors and tamper-resistant designs
  • Die Jackets

Software & Monitoring

  • Temperature sensors and diagnostics to detect cuts
  • Alert systems (email/SMS) linked to power and comms drops
  • Serial-number-based cable tracking

Policy & Awareness

  • Regulations to limit copper resale
  • Educating scrapyards and law enforcement
  • Marking and labeling cables to deter resale

Psychological Deterrents

  • Stickers warning of detection
  • QR codes linking cables to operators
  • Video surveillance and loud alarms

Consensus & next steps

The session concluded with a strong consensus: EV charging cable theft is a multi-faceted issue, and solving it requires collaboration across the entire EV charging ecosystem. The session was built on ongoing activities in the Focus Group Charging Infrastructure, with the decision to develop a dedicated subgroup to address the problem further.

CharIN will continue to gather best practices, encourage industry-wide data sharing, and support the development of global recommendations for cable theft detection, deterrence, and prevention in EV charging stations.

Stay tuned for more on this EVSE theft prevention initiative in the coming months.

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Published on: 08/19/2025

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News contacts

Alexander Janissek

Technical Project Manager

Erika Myers

Executive Director, Charging Interface Initiative North America (CharIN Inc.)

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