<
https://thedriven.io/2025/10/15/ideologically-motivated-vandalism-and-theft-a-growing-problem-for-ev-charging-stations/>
"Vandalism and theft at electric vehicle (EV) charging stations have become a
growing problem for operators in Germany, news agency
dpa reported via
ntv.
The number of reported incidents has risen sharply in recent months. Operator
EnBW alone recorded more than 900 cases of cable theft at over 130 locations
since the beginning of the year, resulting in damages amounting to several
million euros, a company spokesperson said. Other operators also reported a
significant increase in incidents in 2025.
According to EnBW, one possible motive for the thefts is the resale value of
copper contained in the charging cables. However, given the relatively low
financial gain that can be expected, the company suspects that some cases may
be driven by hostility towards e-mobility.
“Some of the incidents seem to be ideologically motivated, for example by
people who reject electric mobility,” EnBW said. In many cases, large parts of
the cables are left behind after being cut, supporting this assumption.
The damages not only cause repair costs of up to 8,000 euros per case, but also
reduce the number of available charging points. Operators are cooperating with
police and implementing preventive measures such as on-site cameras and colour
cartridges which mark and can to help identify offenders.
In the first half of 2025, the number of public charging stations in Germany
rose by almost 20,000 units to a total of 184,000, according to energy industry
association BDEW.
In the same period, nearly 250,000 new electric cars were registered – a new
record. A survey published earlier this year found that 58 percent of
respondents in Germany would consider buying an EV, nearly double the share
from the previous year."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
