Electric vehicle (EV) drivers in Australia are facing a new and worrying problem thieves are cutting charging cables to steal the copper inside them. This growing crime wave is now threatening the country’s EV charging network and adding to the “range anxiety” already felt by many drivers.
According to the repoert by Yahoo News Across Australia, copper theft has become a serious issue. It has already caused power outages, water supply problems and damage to public infrastructure. Now, EV chargers are the latest target.
Australia’s largest EV charging company, Evie Networks, says several of its charging stations have had their cables cut, especially in parts of Victoria. When cables are stolen, chargers stop working, leaving drivers stranded without power.
To fight back, Evie is testing a new security system called CableGuard. This system places a strong protective sleeve around the charging cable. Inside the sleeve is a special liquid dye. If a thief cuts the cable, the dye sprays out and sticks to their skin and clothes. It glows under UV light and can be traced by police to the exact charging site.
Evie’s Chief Operations Officer, Geoff Brady, said the company is taking action to protect customers and keep chargers working.
“We’re trialling new technology to stop cable theft and keep our network reliable for EV drivers,” he said.
Copper theft is attractive to criminals because copper can be sold to scrap metal dealers for quick cash. According to the Australian Institute of Criminology, metal theft costs the country more than $100 million every year.
The problem has already forced energy companies like Energex in Queensland to replace copper cables with aluminium to reduce losses.
For EV users, this new crime trend is another challenge just as electric cars are becoming more popular. Protecting charging stations is now critical to keeping Australia’s EV future on track.
