According to Golem.de, German electric vehicle charging operators are grappling with a growing problem of cable theft, which has reached the point where 70 charging stations are completely disabled in a single day due to cable removal. The scale of the theft is so severe that maintenance personnel and cable suppliers are struggling to keep up with the repairs.
Philipp Senoner, CEO of charging equipment manufacturer Alpitronic, stated, “70 charging cables are being cut and stolen every day.” A spokesperson for EnBW, Germany’s largest fast-charging network operator, stated that 2025 was the peak year for theft, with criminals repeatedly cutting and stealing the copper-containing charging cables.

One of the difficulties in combating this type of cable theft is the location of the charging stations. Charging stations are typically located in locations that are easily accessible to drivers, but this easily accessible location also makes it easy for thieves to access them. Furthermore, many charging stations in supermarket parking lots are left unattended in sparsely populated public areas at night.
The copper contained in a single electric vehicle charging cable is reportedly worth approximately €40, but thieves sell it as illegal scrap metal for a fraction of that. However, repair costs are much higher for operators, and stolen charging stations typically take about two weeks to restore to service.

EnBW has enhanced video surveillance at its charging stations, and Alpitronic has implemented software updates to quickly identify cable thefts. These operational adjustments may provide some improvements for users, but neither is a preventative measure.

Similar incidents have occurred in liberal America. To prevent such incidents, according to a recent report by The Verge, ChargePoint’s Vice President of Product Management announced that its new cables incorporate patent-pending technology that enhances their protection by adding steel.
The new cables have been tested with “common tools,” including wire cutters, bolt cutters, and power tools. The results show that they are significantly more resistant to theft, requiring thieves to expend more time, effort, and use more expensive tools to break them.

It’s worth noting that Tesla has also previously faced frequent cable thefts. To address this, Tesla Supercharger cables are engraved with “Property of Tesla Motors” on the inner copper wire to facilitate tracing in the event of theft.
In addition, Tesla uses a cut-resistant material to wrap the cables at Supercharger stations. Dye and ink are placed underneath the wrapping. If someone attempts to cut the cable, the dye and ink splash onto the tool used, providing police with strong evidence to track and punish the vandal.

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 References:mydrivers