First there were security guards and cameras, then came smartwater and a demand to classify chargers as Critical Infrastructure. But with firms paying hundreds of thousands of pounds to replace stolen chargepoint leads, one company is fitting GPS trackers to its cables in a bid to tackle the endemic issue.
Instavolt, which is pioneering the technique, says that rather than slowing down, cable theft is instead “a fast-growing crime” as thieves hack away the leads to sell the metal they contain for scrap.
The firm, which spent £410,000 over one 18-month period replacing stolen cables, is fitting GPS trackers to cables across its nationwide network, with the system going live this week. The trackers are geofenced, meaning that as soon as a cable is removed from its location the firm’s security centre receives text, email and telephone alerts. Instavolt can then liaise with police, guiding them as the cables are spirited away from site.
While the scrap value of chargepoint leads is minimal – around £15 to £25 per cable – it can cost providers £1,000 to replace each one. Chargepoint firms also face lost revenue from out-of-action machines, while drivers are faced both with the inconvenience of being unable to charge, and the sense that a spot at which they would have spent a significant amount of time is frequented by determined criminals.
While authorities have announced various measures to tackle surges in certain types of crime, Instavolt’s initiatives echo those faced across the retail and convenience sectors, where police inaction is forcing private firms to install new technology to prevent theft, with associated costs inevitably being passed on to consumers.
Instavolt comments: “By staying ahead of offenders and working hand in hand with local police, we are ensuring that EV drivers can continue to rely on safe, sustainable and uninterrupted charging wherever the road takes them.”
