“Ideologically motivated:” Vandalism and theft a growing problem for EV charging stations

Vandalism and theft at electric vehicle (EV) charging stations have become a growing problem for operators in Germany, news agency dpa reported via ntv.

The number of reported incidents has risen sharply in recent months. Operator EnBW alone recorded more than 900 cases of cable theft at over 130 locations since the beginning of the year, resulting in damages amounting to several million euros, a company spokesperson said. Other operators also reported a significant increase in incidents in 2025.

According to EnBW, one possible motive for the thefts is the resale value of copper contained in the charging cables. However, given the relatively low financial gain that can be expected, the company suspects that some cases may be driven by hostility towards e-mobility.

“Some of the incidents seem to be ideologically motivated, for example by people who reject electric mobility,” EnBW said. In many cases, large parts of the cables are left behind after being cut, supporting this assumption.

The damages not only cause repair costs of up to 8,000 euros per case, but also reduce the number of available charging points. Operators are cooperating with police and implementing preventive measures such as on-site cameras and colour cartridges which mark and can to help identify offenders.

In the first half of 2025, the number of public charging stations in Germany rose by almost 20,000 units to a total of 184,000, according to energy industry association BDEW.

In the same period, nearly 250,000 new electric cars were registered – a new record. A survey published earlier this year found that 58 percent of respondents in Germany would consider buying an EV, nearly double the share from the previous year.

Clean Energy Wire. Reproduced with permission.