Vandals Are Cutting Supercharger Cables, but Tesla Is on Top of It

There are almost 2.5 million all-electric vehicles on American roads today. That may seem like a pretty big number, but it pales in comparison with all the private, commercial, and publicly owned vehicles that are (as of 2022) registered – 283,400,986. EV adoption is on the rise, but it's not happening as fast as some may want it to.

Still, last year, the automotive industry gave us an interesting premiere: Tesla's Model Y became the world's best-selling vehicle. Trumping Toyota is not an easy feat, especially for a manufacturer that doesn't sell any gas- or diesel-powered rides. But Tesla pulled it off.

That success wasn't only about the car being a family-friendly and practical commuting appliance. It happened because Tesla foresaw the importance of two things: software and fast charging. Its EVs may have a simple cabin, be efficient, and not boast the best materials, but most people care about a low monthly payment. So, price is an essential factor. But so is the public charging infrastructure.
Tesla was the first to take the initiative and invested early in a high-power charging network.

That effort paid off last year when Ford made the surprise announcement that it would join forces with the now Texas-based automaker and adopt its connector. Moreover, Blue Oval customers who bought an EV learned they would be able to charge at Superchargers via an adapter as soon as 2024. Then, GM followed in Ford's footsteps, and the rest is history.

Changes and challenges

However, even though EVs account for under one percent of all the vehicles registered in the US, existing DC fast chargers are often getting crowded. These pedestals can dispense power at a high rate, but replenishing a battery enough to continue the journey can take anywhere between 15 to 40 minutes. That's why queues form when many people want to charge at the same time and at the same location.

Existing Tesla owners, who were already a bit worried about seeing other car brands at their exclusive high-power chargers, are now dealing with another headache: clipped cables. And it's happening in the world's most valuable automaker's new home state.

In less than a week, five Supercharger stations in Houston, Texas, have been targeted by nefarious people who simply cut the cable and left behind the plug. It's unclear what their reasons are, but the main suspicion is that vandals may want to make a quick buck off the copper that's inside the charger cables.

A recycling center owner told KPRC 2 that her business pays $0.70 for every pound of insulated copper wire. Everyone coming in to sell something worth recycling must have their fingerprint scanned. Then, they must place their signature on a digital machine and smile for the camera. So, at least in theory, anyone selling stolen stuff would be caught in no time.

But thieves can make even more if they take the copper out themselves. Scrap yards will pay between $2 and $4 for a pound of bare copper. Netizens, however, were quick to point out that disgruntled laid-off employees may be behind all this sudden vandalism.

A widespread issue?

However, Tesla isn't the only one dealing with such pressing issues. Electrify America – the VW-owned high-power charging network of choice for CCS-equipped EVs – has been having troubles of its own. Nefarious actors clipped many of its cables as well. It has gotten so bad that the company ultimately decided to inform customers about some locations that wouldn't be fixed until a solution to keep vandals away or catch them in the act was found together with law enforcement.

That's a stark difference compared to what Tesla decided to do. Even though Elon Musk dissolved the marque's entire charging team (with a few exceptions) out of the blue – getting rid of Rebecca Tinucci in the process – the maintenance continues to remain top-notch. It took the technicians less than 12 hours to replace all the cables and bring the Supercharger station back online.

And, keep in mind that Tesla has over 2,200 Supercharger stations in the US. Even better, the outspoken executive recently confirmed that the brand would add even more brand-new charging locations by the end of the year. Meanwhile, Electrify America has around 4,000 individual DC stalls - not stations -  in the US and Canada.

So, all that fuss about the world's most valuable automaker taking it down a notch wasn't warranted. Elon Musk may act unpredictably at times, but he sure knows what his company's strong selling points are. Since his financial future depends on Tesla's success, he won't be making any radical decisions without thinking thoroughly about the outcome. Or, at least, we hope so.

That's why many say using a Tesla is more convenient and dependable. You might have to spend a little more time charging than filling up with gas, but at least you'll always know if the Supercharger you're planning to visit is up and running. That level of care and the great software Tesla has are major advantages. More automakers and fast-charging solutions providers should take notes.