Finnish DC fast-charging company Kempower has approved an anti-theft solution developed by charging consultancy Formula Space.
CableGuard has been developed by Formula Space to tackle a rise in EV charging cable theft, which doubled in number last year compared to 2023.
Charging cables have become a recent target for organized theft due to their copper content, which has a considerable resale value as scrap metal.
With repairs and replacements proving costly for charging operators and OEMs, CableGuard was born out of the industry’s need for an effective solution to the ongoing issue.
Kempower “vigorously tested” the CableGuard solution with a view to rolling it out to customers in order to protect their stock.
The testing phase was completed over an expedited eight-week period and the solution is now fully approved by Kempower for the UK, Ireland and continental European markets.
If a cable protected by CableGuard is tampered with, a uniquely identifiable fluid is released at high pressure, making contact with the perpetrator and their nearby belongings.
The fluid is transparent to the naked eye, but its own signature DNA code exclusive to the charging location becomes visible under UV light, with information available to the police via a shared database.
This forensic element ensures that perpetrators can be linked back to offences at specific charge points, aiding with convictions and acting as a strong deterrent.
Lee Barnett, Solutions & Service Manager, UK & Ireland at Kempower, 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, said:
“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.”
Image courtesy of Kempower
