EV charger cable thefts plague Poland's expanding network

Poland's electric vehicle charging infrastructure is rapidly expanding, with public fast-charging stations increasing nearly ninefold since 2019. However, this growth has attracted thieves targeting the valuable copper cables within the charging equipment. Operators estimate that around 10% of charging stations have been affected by these thefts.

“

For the recovered metal, the perpetrator can get at most a few hundred zlotys at a scrap yard. Meanwhile, the price of a new CCS cable starts at 15,000 zlotys.

The motive is simple: while the copper salvaged from a stolen cable might fetch only a few hundred zlotys, replacing a single cable can cost operators upwards of 15,000 zlotys. This figure does not include the costs of repair and the revenue lost while the station is out of service. A recent court case saw a perpetrator sentenced to eight months of restricted freedom, but penalties can reach up to five years in prison.

“

A few hundred zlotys of potential profit can mean tens or even dozens of thousands of zlotys in losses.

In response, charging station companies like Powerdot are implementing robust security measures. These include reinforced cable sheathing, alarm systems, and surveillance. Powerdot also maintains a stock of replacement cables to minimize downtime. The company reports that in areas with enhanced security, repeat thefts have been rare, though not entirely eliminated. Despite these efforts, the increasing number of electric vehicles means charging infrastructure will be under greater demand, making the availability of these stations crucial.

“

In most places where additional security measures have been implemented, further thefts have not occurred.