Tesla is exploring progressive options to fight the rising subject of charging cable thefts at its Supercharging stations. This downside has change into more and more prevalent amongst operators of public charging stations.
Many challenges persist relating to public charging infrastructure for electrical autos, together with inadequate station numbers, restricted chargers at every web site, peak pricing, and reliability points. One key issue affecting reliability and uptime is the supply of charging cables.
Surprisingly, charging stations will not be proof against theft, with thieves usually focusing on them to chop and steal the cables for his or her steel worth. Because the operator of the most important community of DC fast-charging stations, Tesla finds itself significantly weak to such prison exercise.
To handle these considerations, Tesla has confirmed that it’s trialing new theft prevention measures. One strategy entails testing a protecting wrap for the cables, which has been noticed at a Supercharger station in Seattle, Washington.
These wraps, named DyeDefender, encompass small hoses that encompass the cable and launch dye if tampered with. This not solely serves as a deterrent but additionally marks the cable in a method that makes theft much less interesting.
Tesla’s head of charging, Max de Zegher, introduced that the corporate can be engraving elements of the cables with “Property of Tesla,” a measure supposed to discourage recycling services from accepting them. This answer is cost-effective and is designed to not intervene with service operations or buyer expertise.
If scrapyards and recycling facilities adhere to this engraving technique, it might assist scale back cable theft by making it tougher for thieves to revenue from stolen items. Though black markets exist for a lot of these gadgets, they usually function on lower cost factors, doubtlessly making the chance of theft not definitely worth the effort.
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