Kempower adds forensic tech to stop charger cable theft

EV chargepoint manufacturer Kempower has introduced forensic countermeasures to try to deter vandalism and theft of public charger cables.

Thieves have been increasingly targeting public EV chargers, cutting the cables to steal valuable copper from them. According to Kempower, cable thefts around Europe have doubled since 2023. Not only does this pose a safety risk but it also causes major inconvenience to drivers and cost to chargepoint operators.

Kempower and other manufacturers have already taken measures to thwart thieves including introducing “cut-proof” cable surrounds and on-device alarms. Now, the Finnish firm has gone further with new systems to trace criminals targeting its devices, which are used by chargepoint operators including Osprey in the UK.

It has become the first charger manufacturer to approve Formula Space’s “CableGuard” system which uses forensic traceability to identify anyone who tampers with its cables.

As well as a tough steel-free cut-resistant sleeve, the CableGuard features a uniquely identifiable fluid which is released at high pressure if a cable is tampered with, coating the perpetrator and their nearby belongings. The fluid is invisible to the naked eye but becomes visible under UV light, with information available to the police via a shared database. The fluid in each device has a unique chemical signature that means criminals can be linked back to offences at specific charge points, aiding with convictions.

Lee Barnett, Kempower’s solutions and service manager for the UK and Ireland, commented: “A key element to driving forward the EV transition is instilling in people a feeling of trust and confidence in available charging infrastructure. Rising crime involving charging cables is damaging both to EV charging businesses and to public perceptions and experience.

“We chose to lead the way and become Formula Space’s testing partner for CableGuard so we could offer our customers and partners a solution we truly believe in and to uphold our overall mission of supporting the transition to clean transportation.”

Vern Pollard, director of Formula Space, added: “The testing of CableGuard was a crucial stage of the development process for us because we wanted to be sure that it was compatible with a wide variety of charging infrastructure.

“We needed a testing partner with significant experience and expertise with physical charging infrastructure, which is why we trusted Kempower to fulfil this need. We’re proud to say that, after extensive trialling and research, CableGuard has had Kempower’s seal of approval and will provide an extra layer of security to its customers.