More than 400 complaints have been filed since the beginning of the year by charging station operators regarding cable theft or damage, according to the association Charge France. This phenomenon, observed in several regions, is primarily driven by the resale of the copper contained in the equipment.
Fast charging stations are particularly targeted because their thicker cables contain more copper and are often installed in isolated areas. The recovered metal would only bring thieves 40 to 50 euros per cable, while the financial consequences are much greater for the operators.
Repairs can cost up to 3,000 euros
Repairing a damaged charging station costs between €1,500 and €3,000, due to the replacement of the equipment and the intervention of a technician. The operator Atlante, which runs 1,800 stations in France, estimates that the losses caused by these thefts now amount to millions of euros.
Several suspects have been arrested in the Pays de la Loire region and in Albi. Meanwhile, operators are strengthening their security measures with cameras, more robust sheathing, and systems that allow them to geolocate stolen metal. The stakes are high for the development of electric mobility, as France had 200,045 charging points in July, representing a 15% increase year-on-year.
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