How to Secure EV Charging Stations in Parking Lots

A growth in the Electric Vehicle (EV) industry has also seen a growth in EV charging station-related crime such as copper theft, vandalism, and cyber attacks. 

Keeping up with this growth can be difficult, making security central to maintaining the safety of your EV stations for yourself and those using them. However, to understand the best response to this, you need to be aware of the dangers and the reason behind the development of this type of crime.

Understanding the Rise in Electric Cars

In 2024, EV sales continued to grow for many companies with Automakers alone rounding off the year having sold a total of 1.3 million EVs domestically.

There are a number of factors that have led to a rise in electric car sales and this is only expected to continue in future:

• Environmental benefits - Electric vehicles have a lower environmental impact than gasoline-powered cars as they produce no tailpipe emissions.
• Government incentives - The Government implemented the Inflation Reduction Act that provides tax credits for purchasing electric and plug-in hybrid cars and these can be advanced at the time of purchase. This has incentivized customers to switch from gasoline-powered cars.
• Technological advancements - Following a development in battery-powered cars there has been an expansion in the range of EVs available to customers, providing more options to select from. 
• Increase in consumer interest - A shift in consumer demand has been taking place due to the environmental benefits, improved battery life, and increased range, creating more interest in EVs nowadays.
• Growth in charging infrastructure - In recent years there has been an expansion in the charging infrastructure across the country for EVs, making it easier for individuals to charge their car. This has enticed new customers as it reduces the concern of losing power.
• Boost in automobile manufacturer investment - Major auto manufacturers have been investing in EVs to meet the growth in consumer demand. 

As much as this rise benefits the industry and has led to an increase in EV charging stations across the nation, this has also increased the security risks now posed towards them as thieves are recognizing them as places to target.

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The Security Risks to EV Charging Stations

Following a growth in the demand for electric cars, criminals have begun to take advantage of this, and this has led to a steady increase in EV station crime over recent years, especially in public spaces such as parking lots.

Parking lots are one of the most common locations for EV charging stations as drivers will frequent them most often.

As much as the growth in charging infrastructure has been beneficial for drivers, there are three main security risks to EV charging stations that you should be aware of if you own them or are responsible for them:

Copper and Cable Theft

EV charging cables are often made of copper, and as copper prices rose 7.66% by the end of 2024, thieves and Organised Crime Gangs (OCGs) have begun to target EV stations due to this. 

Some chargers can be easily accessed, especially those in public spaces like parking lots. Thieves will often cut the cable from the EV station and resell it in order to profit off of it themselves. 

Copper theft is an increasingly common crime appearing across various states and this is likely to grow as the resale price continues to rise. 

For the thieves, this process is simple, however, the repercussions for you are much greater. EV charging stations will be unusable, impacting you financially and those utilizing those services. You will also need to replace the cabling to ensure it is functional again.

This creates further financial implications for you and could take time depending on the available supply and process required to complete the repair or replacement.

Vandalism

Unfortunately, EV charging stations are prone to vandalism. Due to parking lots being large, outdoor spaces, this gives full visibility to criminals, providing them with a perfect target to attack.

Vandalism can occur for no real reason other than to simply disrupt your business.

If your EV charging stations appear damaged in any way this can deter potential users from utilizing your chargers and disrupt any current users also. It presents the idea that your EV stations are at risk and therefore could place their vehicle at risk too.

Cyber Attacks

EV charging stations use the internet to run their network for charging which leaves them vulnerable to potential cyber attacks.

There are many reasons EV charging stations may be targeted in a cyber attack:

• Cause disruption to the electrical grid
• Take EV charging stations offline or steal electricity from them
• Infect your system with malware that can be passed onto any vehicle utilizing charging stations
• Steal customer information and threaten ransom

The damage from cyber attacks extends further than the financial implications, it can cause reputational damage towards the owners leading to distrust from users and even lead to legal ramifications if security was not of standard for them.

All four of the above threats can have devastating damages to owners, some of which may be irreparable. Security is central to maintaining your EV charging stations, their safety and the service for all existing and new users.

How to Secure your EV Charging Stations

Using our knowledge in the various security risks presented to EV charging stations and parking lot security, we formed our top tips on how to secure your EV stations and keeping them safe for your users:

Utilize a Tethered Charger

EV charging cables are often targets for thieves due to the high value copper held within them and are easy to remove in instances where the cable is separate to the station. 

Therefore, utilizing tethered chargers could help to reduce cable thefts happening to your EV charging stations. 

A tethered charger is a cable permanently attached to the station. By permanently attaching the cable to the charger, it will often make it harder for thieves to remove and help to keep your stations usable for drivers.

For EV charging stations in parking lots specifically, they are more susceptible to threats due to their vast space and lack of security. Therefore, any ways to prevent theft is beneficial.

Implement a Surveillance System

Surveillance systems provide a visual deterrent to thieves and criminals whilst also monitoring and capturing high-quality video evidence that can be utilized for any future criminal proceedings. 

This provides an all-rounded approach by providing security support at every stage.

However, there are multiple surveillance systems available nowadays, and selecting the cheapest option may not benefit you the way you expect it to. 

For many of the cheaper options, surveillance systems will often be unmonitored and only record the crimes for evidence purposes with no way of responding to it whilst it is actively taking place.

At LotGuard, all our products are backed by remote monitoring services which allows for potential threats to be assessed and responded to appropriately whilst the crime is active. Other options react retrospectively whereas we help to disrupt active crimes, track criminals and record the event for evidence. 

They are also designed specifically for parking lots and fulfill their unique security requirements to ensure a fully-managed security service where you can be as hands-free or hands-on as you wish.

Our LotGuard PRO Surveillance Trailer also works to deter crime, standing up to 20 ft tall, they create a bold security presence and removes any hiding capabilities for criminals. 

Use Official Charging Networks

Due to the risk of security breaches and cyber hacks, drivers are more likely to utilize EV charging stations with established and reputable charging networks.

There are many factors in deciding a charging network aside from the reputability, however, for your parking lot’s security it is important to keep this in mind and assess the measures put in place by them.

The consequences of a cyber attack can impact you as a business, but more importantly your users, their data and their trust with you.

You have a duty of care to protect individuals’ data, and this includes any data captured by your EV charging stations, so be prepared and set up a surveillance system for your parking lot instead of leaving it too late.

Install a Safety Barrier

Where space permits it, installing a safety barrier can help avoid any unwanted damage or unauthorized access to your EV charging stations within your parking lot. 

Smaller barriers such as pillars can be used to create difficulty for criminals by restricting access to them.

Criminals take advantage of easy opportunities, so by reducing that ease it will help discourage them from damaging or committing any crimes against your EV charging stations.

Add Security Lighting

Most parking lots take up large, open space and it is important to ensure this space is well-lit to help deter EV charging station-related crime and theft. 

You may be thinking that having lighting informs criminals that EV charging stations are present and therefore entices them to the target, however, many crimes take place undercover of darkness.

This is due to the fact it reduces the chance of identification for them.

The best solution to manage both risk factors is to invest in motion-sensored lighting within your parking lot. This ensures your EV stations remain hidden when necessary, however, aim to startle any intruders with lighting when motion is detected. 

Keep your EV Charging Stations Secure with WCCTV

The future survival of electric vehicles relies heavily on the maintenance and management of EV charging stations, this includes the security of them. 

Repairs and replacement can take time and this may not be as simple in future as copper demand threatens to overtake the global supply of it. This could lead to major delays or worse complete unavailability. 

Therefore, getting ahead of your EV charging station security is the best form of protection for you now and for the future. 

At LotGuard we have 20-years in specialized parking lot security solutions that work with multiple industries including the EV industry. Speak with us today to find out how we can support you!

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