Owner of SmartWater, DeterTech, has partnered with Formula Space to enhance its CableGuard product, to provide a layered security solution against the theft of EV charging cables.
It comes as the theft of EV charging cables has risen, driving up replacement costs, delaying deployments, and undermining confidence in the nation’s transition to electric vehicles.
For operators managing multiple sites, the cumulative impact is significant: higher maintenance costs, slower rollout schedules, and growing concerns over sustainability and long-term viability, the firm said.
By integrating SmartWater forensic marking technology into Formula Space’s CableGuard, operators can “dramatically reduce incidents, whilst also ensuring offenders are both traceable and prosecutable”, it said.
CableGuard is a patented EV cable protection system that offers multi-layered defence and exceptional cut resistance – making cables significantly harder to breach than standard EV charging cables. Designed for quick and easy installation, it acts as a visible deterrent and a robust physical barrier, the firm added.
If thieves attempt to breach the protection, SmartWater forensic liquid provides a second line of defence. When a cable is cut it releases a powerful jet of SmartWater, onto the offenders and their tools, allowing police to identify them and connect them back to the protected site.
The system is already in use by EV charge point operators and has achieved a 98% reduction in repeat attacks on the first site in which it was deployed. SmartWater has a 100% conviction rate in contested court cases, the firm added.
Gary Higgins, Director of Security & Risk, DeterTech, said:
“Our crime intelligence analysts have identified a sharp rise in EV cable theft, and we expect this trend to accelerate as charging networks expand globally.
“By integrating SmartWater with CableGuard, we’re giving operators a highly effective solution to protect critical assets.”
Vern Pollard, Director of Client Relations, Formula Space, said:
“CableGuard was developed to address the growing issue of cable theft for our clients and the wider industry. Combining it with SmartWater takes protection to the next level.
“We’re proud to offer operators a scalable solution that strengthens EV infrastructure security worldwide.”
