The rise in the popularity of electric cars has also seen a rise in electric car charger thefts. Charger and EV charging cable theft is the greatest fear of electric car owners.
Many electric vehicles have locking mechanisms, which means no one can disconnect while the vehicle is charging. Some charger thieves have found a way to bypass the lock system in electric vehicles, as some electric car chargers have cyber security flaws. As a result, they can be accessed remotely to unlock charge points.
One of the leading causes of cable theft is economic crises. And since the demand for second-hand chargers has increased, there’s an avenue to make money from selling them online after replacing their lead.
Due to their copper content, you can also sell them at a scrap value of £200. Some electric car owners could even take someone else’s charger for personal use.
The cost of replacing electric chargers can cost around £700 hence the need for EV charger protection. The great news is that there are several extra steps EV owners can take to protect their EV charging cables from theft.
EV solutions are EV charger experts made up of their knowledgeable team that can give quality advice on how to protect your EV charging cable from theft.
We can help you decide the best way to protect your charger and ensure you don’t spend extra on an expensive replacement charger.
How to protect your EV charger from thieves
Padlocks
Padlocks are an effective way to safeguard your property, and they also work for electric charging cables.
You can secure your charger from theft by locking on EV cables and looping through the p of the wheel when charging at a charging station. You can also pass a long shackle padlock through the hole of the cable’s plug.
You can also get a cord lock for extra protection. Use the pivot of the cord lock to secure the cable, after which you can use a padlock to safeguard the cord.
Store your charger in a safe security box in your boot
Your boot might be the easiest place to store your electric vehicle cable, but it is unsafe. It is the first place thieves will check. So, if you have to put your charger cable in your boot, place it in a safe, secure box.
Some safe security boxes have combination locks or key locks to minimise theft.
Take the EV charging cable inside with you at night
Although this is stressful, taking your electric car charger inside at night will prevent theft. Rather than leave it in your boot overnight, store your charging equipment at night for extra peace.
Front and back dash cam
Install front and rear dash cams on your electric vehicle. To save cost, get those activated while the car is charging or activated when movement is detected.
A dash camera might not be able to deter thieves because they are small. But they can help you identify unwanted guests and send the cam video to the police in case of cable theft.
Charge your car off-street if possible
Public charging can attract potential thieves, so it is best to charge electric cars at home, away from prying eyes.
You can also install an electric charge point on your premises for security. You can charge in a garage if you have to charge out of your house.
Install home CCTV
CCTV cameras can discourage thieves at public charging points and do the same at home. Install CCTV at home to provide extra security by videoing any nearby contact around your car overnight.
Ring doorbell
Ring doorbells have motion sensor detectors that detect motion within 30 feet and capture the video. The bell connects to your home wifi and sends an alert to your device through the ring app once it detects motion.
A ring doorbell close to your charging point can help monitor electric cars. But, ensure you are not so far away from your car.
Apple tag or another location-tracking device
A location tracking device can help to track your charging cable when stolen.
The apple tag tracker, Airtag, is a great option because it doesn’t use GPS but uses Bluetooth signals that can be detected by other nearby devices in the Find my Network.
Stay with your car while it’s charging
Staying with your car while charging is the easiest way to protect your electric car from cable theft. Ensure you stay close to your car at charging stations while charging with your cable.
Protect your EV charger with advice from EV Solutions!
EV owners often get worried about losing their electric vehicle chargers to thieves. These electric vehicle chargers are expensive to replace, which can be challenging. However, there are several ways to protect your electric charging cables before, during and after charging.
EV solutions are EV experts that deal in the supply and installation of portable EV chargers. We also advise EV drivers to protect against electric car charger theft.
Contact us today for a free quote for the supply and installation of EV chargers.
