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As more electric vehicles hit the road, charging infrastructure has expanded to keep pace. The shift to electric promises a cleaner future, but it has also created new challenges. Among the most frustrating for drivers is a rising wave of vandalism targeting public EV chargers, especially in cities where demand is high and access is already limited.
One EV owner recently shared her experience on Reddit after discovering a vandalized charger at her office. The photo they posted revealed intact plugs, but the connecting wires had been removed. Each cable appeared to have been precisely cut using heavy-duty wire cutters, suggesting a deliberate and possibly professional theft.
Here’s a recent post on Reddit with a long thread discussion EV charger vandalism.
“Almost all the stations near us have been vandalized. Not graffiti but the actual charger and line being stolen. I’m guessing it’s because of copper or some precious metal in the line but how in the world are people cutting it? The number of fast chargers in my area has easily been cut by 80% because of this and the companies (EVgo and ChargePoint) have not repaired a single one and it’s been months and months. Is this a thing nationally? Is there something that could prevent this from happening again like covering the line in something that’s harder to cut? What gives?”
azswcowboy made a suggestion:
“There’s an even easier solution – require all copper recyclers to have state registrations. Az did this and it has cut the problem down significantly. I mean people literally died in building AC vents trying to steal copper. Sure some stuff can still get through by bad actors, but it’s much more difficult to profit.”
SnooEpiphanies8097 made another suggestion used in Europe:
“I don’t understand why level 2 stations in the US do not have BYOC (bring your own cable). I am addicted to EV road trip videos, including channels in the UK and EU, and the level 2 stations in Europe can be so simple, at least for free stations. They can essentially be outlets sticking out of the ground near parking spots.”
Another Redditor guessed that the motivation is political:
“It’s just vandalism. There is almost no copper worth getting from those cables. Not worth it. It’s way easier to steal at a construction site or abandoned building. These are just people who hate EVs.”
Growing EV Adoption Meets Charging Infrastructure Sabotage
As the EV market grows, so does the need for reliable charging. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, from early 2020 to mid‑2025, the number of public EV charging ports grew from roughly 95,000 to about 207,000, marking an impressive 118% increase. That’s more than doubling in just five years. Edmunds reported that EVs made up nearly 8% of all new car sales in the U.S. as of February 2025, compared to just 1.6% in 2020.
Vandalism is threatening to derail this progress. Electric vehicles have been keyed, unplugged, and targeted with acts of aggression like coal rolling. Charging stations, especially in high-traffic areas, have become prime targets.
Seattle’s Struggle: A Hotspot for Charger Theft
Nowhere is this issue more visible than in Seattle, where at least 100 public charging cables have been stolen in the last year. Thieves are targeting the copper inside the cables, even though each one yields only around $20 worth of scrap. Despite the low payoff, the damage is extensive. Replacing a single cable can cost thousands of dollars and leaves drivers who rely on public infrastructure with fewer options.
A Seattle resident without access to a home charger, said she has not visited a single Electrify America station recently where all the cables were intact. On platforms like Nextdoor, other residents shared similar frustrations, including one who had to drive 30 miles to find a working station.
The damage is concentrated around fast-charging locations such as grocery stores and commercial parking lots. These are stations that EV owners depend on to recharge. When these go offline, entire neighborhoods become fast-charging deserts.
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A Widening Crisis Beyond the City
Seattle is not alone. Many drivers are reporting widespread outages, and in the some locations, chargers were vandalized before they even became operational. Statewide, Electrify America has reported 93 cable cuts since July of last year. Some locations have been hit multiple times, with one in a single neighborhood losing 51 cables across nine incidents.
EVgo, another major charge provider, called Seattle one of the worst-hit regions in the country. The company is collaborating with utilities, government agencies, and competitors to develop a unified response. So far, no easy solution has emerged.
Police Response and Challenges in Enforcement
Seattle police have assigned these cases to their Major Crimes Task Force, recognizing the high financial impact and repeated nature of the thefts. Surveillance footage is being used to identify suspects, but with scrap copper prices hitting $5.20 per pound, the incentive for theft remains strong.
One of the biggest hurdles is the way copper is stripped and sold. Even though Washington passed a law requiring scrap buyers to document commercial-grade metal transactions, stripped copper is nearly impossible to trace back to charging equipment.
Searching for Solutions: From Steel Cables to Cable-Free Charging
Innovators are testing various strategies to stay ahead of the problem. Jay Donnaway, president of the Seattle EV Association, developed a stainless-steel sheathed cable that is harder to cut. However, even that was eventually damaged.
Other efforts are focused on rethinking the entire charging system. A pilot project funded by the U.S. Department of Energy encourages EV drivers to carry their own cables, reducing the value of public units as theft targets. In some municipalities, transit buses are charged wirelessly using induction pads embedded in the pavement, eliminating the need for cables entirely.
The Future of EV Charging: Urgency and Innovation
As Washington prepares for a zero-emission vehicle mandate by 2035, reliable and secure infrastructure will be critical. Nineteen percent of all vehicles sold in the state last year were electric, second only to California. Yet without dependable public charging, many drivers — especially those without home access — will be left behind.
Charge providers are racing to keep stations online. Electrify America said it is increasing security, installing cameras, improving lighting, and seeking long-term solutions. In the meantime, each fixed cable remains at risk of being cut again.
This cycle of vandalism highlights a deeper challenge. Building a cleaner transportation future requires more than just adoption. It demands protection, innovation, and shared responsibility — from governments, communities, and the people driving the change.
Please Drop Your Thoughts in the Comments Below
Have you ever shown up to a charger only to find it vandalized or broken? What did you do?
Do you think this is about copper theft or anti-EV sentiment? What’s really behind the sabotage?
Chris Johnston is the author of SAE’s comprehensive book on electric vehicles, “The Arrival of The Electric Car.” His coverage on Torque News focuses on electric vehicles. Chris has decades of product management experience in telematics, mobile computing, and wireless communications. Chris has a B.S. in electrical engineering from Purdue University and an MBA. He lives in Seattle. When not working, Chris enjoys restoring classic wooden boats, open water swimming, cycling and flying (as a private pilot). You can connect with Chris on LinkedIn and follow his work on X at ChrisJohnstonEV.
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Source: torquenews.com
