AP Article: Charging Cable Thefts Hurting EV Market

[Jim Lewis]

https://apnews.com/article/electric...copper-tesla-5f003686cade63fade2e8d7dd3402f3a

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[ryun]

I think this is a pretty obvious outcome to an industry that largely relies on unmanned stations to keep costs lower/profits higher. Of course, like the article mentions, it's not really the network operator that suffers but the consumer who can be severely delayed when a station is heavily vandalized. Also those people stealing cables suck.

 

[Heliian]

Some loser was stealing copper tubes from people's running airconditioners so it's no surprise. These same type of losers will also steal live lines from substations and win a Darwin. Just like cats though, look towards the yards taking in questionable loads.

 

[On the Road with Ralph]

There is an EA station in Las Vegas that I have occasionally used that is currently worthless because its four dispensers have ONE charging cord, and it is for the CHAdeMO connector. This situation has existed for months, EA knows about it, and so far, not rectified it. This is especially egregious because, as you can see in the photo, there are multiple nearby services/food that could make this a good charging stop. This is the kind of thing that makes EA the worst company in America.

 

[invertedspear]

There is an EA station in Las Vegas that I have occasionally used that is currently worthless because its four dispensers have ONE charging cord, and it is for the CHAdeMO connector. This situation has existed for months, EA knows about it, and so far, not rectified it. This is especially egregious because, as you can see in the photo, there are multiple nearby services/food that could make this a good charging stop. This is the kind of thing that makes EA the worst company in America.

On one hand, it's terrible, but at least the vandals didn't mess with the poor CHAdeMO drivers. They need all the charging they can get.

 

[vvgogh]

The metal recycling near me requires your ID if you want to sell them copper.

 

[Sneakypetie78]

The metal recycling near me requires your ID if you want to sell them copper.

same here, but you thing after the a$$hats who steal and strip the copper down to nothing recognizable...
You think the buyer gives af, or the police actually try to piece 2 & 2 together to chase a meth head who's gonna do it again tomorrow?

And on goes the vicious cycle...

Street justice is whats needed...

 

[Sedawk]

There is an EA station in Las Vegas that I have occasionally used that is currently worthless because its four dispensers have ONE charging cord, and it is for the CHAdeMO connector. This situation has existed for months, EA knows about it, and so far, not rectified it. This is especially egregious because, as you can see in the photo, there are multiple nearby services/food that could make this a good charging stop. This is the kind of thing that makes EA the worst company in America.

So we can narrow down the thief to a Leaf owner?

 

[GoodSam]

Cannot wait for robots handling the cords, washing the windshield (whole vehicle?), and zapping the criminals. Selling candy and pop, cleaning the restroom, dumping the trash, etc.

 

[Jim Lewis]

Cannot wait for robots handling the cords, washing the windshield (whole vehicle?), and zapping the criminals.

My thoughts precisely! I was thinking of something like the dye packs that bank tellers are wont to give would-be bank robbers these days, which are timed explosives that hopefully blow up shortly after the robbers have fled the bank, dyeing them red. Maybe just as they have liquid-cooled cables, they could add an extra pressurized fluid level so that the would-be robber ends up semi-permanently dyed when a cable is cut. Or, as you say, a little robot squirting machine could roll around the corner and machine-gunning dye spitballs at the robber(s), clippers and cable in hand.

 

[Tony Burgh]

The design of the charge stations will have to change to put the charge cable in a locked cabinet that requires a credit card or electronic key tied to vin to unlock.

 

[Grease Lightning]

The design of the charge stations will have to change to put the charge cable in a locked cabinet that requires a credit card or electronic key tied to vin to unlock.

Or the European model where you bring your own cord

 

[carys98]

Or the European model where you bring your own cord

That’s only for level 2 charging. European DC chargers all have cables.

 

[Grease Lightning]

That’s only for level 2 charging. European DC chargers all have cables.

I know, but doesn’t mean they can’t design them to be plug and play. If they are going to be “redesigning the station”. All they need to do is design a quick connect plug that also allowed for the liquid cooling to transfer too. Easy peasy.

 

[chl]

So we can narrow down the thief to a Leaf owner?

I resemble that remark! Nyuk nyuk nyuk!

Had a 2012 Leaf since Dec 2011, never used a public charger, never used a CHAdeMO charger, never had any issues with the Leaf, except when AT&T dropped the 2G and then the 3G cell service it used for telemetrics that I only used for keeping track of my efficiency (no subscription required, btw).

Yes, not a lot of range (70-100 miles on a full charge, with a tail wind, going down hill, lol) and they didn't do well in extremely hot climates (which is why I'd bet the odds are it was NOT a Leaf driver in Las Vegas) but the Leaf works fine here in the mid-Atlantic region. Made me happy when gas spiked to over $4.00/gallon here and I could say, thanks, but no tanks.

But on a serious note, I have seen some of the charger cords around here vandalized.

When I see that I think about the time, when first got my Leaf, and a guy pulled up next to me in a Chevy Suburban at a light, rolled down his window to tell me how much he just looooved burning gasoline (and dollars?) - I smiled, shifted out of ECO mode, and as the light turned green politely called him a "gas-hole," and left him in the dust with instant acceleration from my electric motor.

Change brings out the worst in some people, due to anxiety, ignorance and too much beer, I suspect.

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