- ChargePoint has developed a new cut-resistant charging cable to help deter theft.
- The company has also introduced a new alarm system that notifies station owners in real time.
- The developments are expected to help reduce repair costs, while also maximizing uptime.
Electric vehicle chargers have been targeted by thieves as their cables contain copper, which can be sold for scrap. This means, in certain areas, it’s not uncommon to arrive at a charger only to find the cable has been cut off.
This is an expensive and annoying problem that impacts companies as well as drivers. ChargePoint is now addressing it with a series of anti-vandalism measures.
More: Thieves Now Targeting EV Charging Cables In Driveways
The big news is a cut-resistant charging cable that has been designed to deter theft. The company didn’t go into many specifics, but said cut-resistant materials have been incorporated into the cable and this makes it “substantially more difficult for would-be vandals to cut.”
A promotional video suggests it will be able to foil attacks with manual cable cutters. Thieves using battery-powered cut-off tools face a longer, more time consuming attempt and no guarantee of success.
Meet ChargePoint Protect and cut-resistant cables⚡️ We’re combating charger vandalism in a big way – introducing new, patent-pending cut-resistant cables and the ChargePoint Protect alarm system. We are patenting cut-resistant cables to mitigate theft. The new ChargePoint Protect feature offers advanced real-time protection by detecting cable cutting, triggering audible and visual alarms, and notifying station owners via SMS and email, this feature will be deployed via an over-the-air update for existing customers as a no-cost security measure. n addition to being available on ChargePoint products, the cut-resistant cable design will be made available to all charger manufacturers under license, ensuring the best charging experience for all businesses and EV drivers. Learn more ➡️ https://bit.ly/3Wm1Tdc
Posted by ChargePoint on Thursday, January 16, 2025
While you’re probably envisioning a thick and stiff cable, ChargePoint said it’s “flexible and easy for drivers to comfortably maneuver.” The company will offer the cut-resistant cable on all its commercial and fleet charging stations, and they also plan to license its design to other charging station manufacturers. This could be a game changer that significantly reduces theft across the industry.
Licensing deals are expected to begin around the middle of the year and ChargePoint said they believe “customers and partners that elect to use its cut-resistant cable design can make any charging station more resistant to tampering and therefore more dependable for all EV drivers.”
Besides the new cable, ChargePoint announced a Protect alarm system. When cable tampering is detected, it automatically engages an alarm that uses the station’s existing speakers, screens and lighting system. In effect, it’s like a car alarm for charging stations.
ChargePoint Protect will be available on select chargers as a no cost software upgrade and the system also has the ability to notify station owners about alarms via text or email. This means they could quickly contact police, which may limit the damage and result in vandals being arrested.
