A surge in vandalism targeting electric vehicle (EV) chargers across the U.S. is being driven by thieves seeking copper, which has seen a significant price increase. Charging station operators report that nearly one in five attempts to use public chargers have failed, with many cases resulting from damaged cables, often cut by organized groups looking to harvest copper wire. Companies such as ChargePoint and Electrify America are investing in technological solutions and community reporting to combat the issue, which has become particularly prevalent in urban areas. As public trust in the reliability of charging stations wavers amid rising EV sales, the need for robust security measures escalates.
