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Thieves have increasingly targeted EV charging stations, intent on stealing the cables, which contain highly conductive copper wiring. The price of copper is nearing a record high on global markets, which means that criminals stand to reap rising amounts of cash by selling the material.
The clipped cables often disable entire stations, forcing EV owners who are low on power to search nervously for a working charger. For people with no charging options at home, the predicament can be exasperating and stressful.
Broken-down chargers have emerged as the latest obstacle for America’s automakers in their strenuous drive to convert more Americans to EV buyers despite widespread public anxiety about a scarcity of charging stations.
Two years ago, according to Electrify America, which runs the nation’s second-largest network of direct-current fast chargers, it might experience a cable cut perhaps every six months at one of its 968 charging stations, with 4,400 plugs nationwide. Through May this year, the figure reached over 100—more than in all of last year.
“We have folks that don’t have home charging, that are relying exclusively on our network to use their EVs to take their kids to school or get to work or get to medical appointments,” said Anthony Lambkin, Electrify America’s vice president of operations. “And so, it’s very impactful when a whole station is down due to vandalism.”
Stations run by Tesla, which operates the nation’s largest fast-charging network, have been hit by thieves in Seattle, Oakland, and Houston.
Until more than a month ago, police in Houston hadn’t seen any cable thefts. Then one cable was stolen from a charger at a gas station. The city has now recorded eight or nine such thefts. That’s according to Sgt. Robert Carson, who leads a police metal theft unit. In one case, thieves swiped 18 of 19 cords at a Tesla station.
“This is a new trend for us down here,” Carson said.
Roy Manuel, an Uber driver who normally recharges his Tesla at the Houston station hit by thieves, said he fears being unable to do so because of stolen cables.
This article was provided by The Associated Press.