Stealing EV cables is big business. This company wants to make it too much effort to bother

Stealing EV charging cables for profit is becoming a widespread issue in Europe, prompting one company to develop a solution that makes the act more risky for would-be thieves. Formula Space, a Canterbury-based company, has created CableGuard, a protective sleeve designed to slow down and complicate the cutting process. The new V4 cut protection option specifically targets the more advanced tools used by organized criminal gangs.

By increasing the time, equipment, and effort required, CableGuard turns what once took seconds into a time-consuming and conspicuous operation. The company has installed CableGuard on thousands of charging sites worldwide, including major operators like TotalEnergies, InstaVolt, and EnBW. While some cables may still be stolen, the increased difficulty often deters criminals.

The stolen copper is stripped, melted, and mixed with legitimate scrap to avoid detection, making it challenging to trace the source. However, the presence of CableGuard has already prevented several thefts, including one where the thief was caught by police during an attempted attack. Despite some determined groups managing to remove protected cables, any cable protection that maintains flexibility for users is more likely to deter thieves than leave the cables vulnerable.