Yes. Charging cables contain a lot of copper, and cable theft from public DC fast chargers and from unattended home cables has been reported in several countries. At public stations, thieves cut tethered cables for scrap value. At home, portable chargers and loose Mode 3 cables are easy to take. Fortunately, most cars lock the connector into the inlet while charging, and there are simple ways to secure the rest.
How Cables Lock During Charging
- At the car: most EVs lock the connector in the inlet while charging and, often, while the car is locked.
- At a socketed charger: the socket shutter or lock holds the Type 2 plug during a session.
- Settings: many cars offer a “permanently lock cable” option for unattended charging.
If a connector will not release later, see why won’t my EV charger disconnect.
Protecting a Cable at Home
- Use a tethered wall charger that is hard to remove, or a lockable holster.
- Bring portable chargers inside when not in use.
- Use a cable lock or padlockable outlet box for portable units left outside.
- Choose a charger with access control (RFID or app) so a stranger cannot use it.
What Operators Do
Charge point operators add cameras, lighting, alarmed cables, steel-reinforced cables and fast replacement contracts. Broken chargers hurt reliability; federal NEVI rules require funded ports to keep an average annual uptime above 97%, which makes protection a business priority.
For homes, the EVDANCE EV-ACT5006T 48A Level 2 wall charger is a hard-wired unit that stays put, and wallboxes such as the EVDANCE EV-ACT3204E 22 kW wallbox offer RFID access control.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are EV charging cables stolen?
Mainly for the copper inside.
Can someone unplug my car while it charges?
Most cars lock the connector while charging and when locked.
Should I leave my portable charger outside?
Better not, unless it is locked and protected from weather.
Related Reading
- Can You Leave an EV Charging Cable Outside?
- Why Won’t My EV Charger Disconnect?
- RFID and User Management for Shared Chargers
Key Takeaways
- Cables are stolen for copper, mainly at public fast chargers.
- Cars lock connectors during charging.
- At home, use tethered chargers, locks and access control.