Theft of EV charging cables is a serious problem. For thieves, cables are an attractive target, thanks to the high price of copper. For charging operators, the damage can result in expenses of thousands of dollars to repair and recommission charging stations, and weeks of lost revenue.

DeterTech, the maker of SmartWater, has partnered with Formula Space to integrate SmartWater forensic marking technology into Formula Space’s CableGuard. The goal is to deter theft and to ensure that offenders are traceable and prosecutable.

CableGuard is a patented EV cable protection system that makes cables significantly harder to cut than standard EV charging cables. Designed for quick and easy installation on both new and existing EV charging infrastructure without affecting charger performance, CableGuard is designed to act as a visible deterrent and a robust physical barrier.

In case bold thieves manage to breach this protection, SmartWater forensic liquid provides a second line of defense. When a cable is cut, it releases a powerful jet of SmartWater onto the miscreants and their tools, allowing police to identify them and connect them to the protected site. The system is already in use by EV charge point operators.

SmartWater has been available for over 30 years—Formula Space says Toyota used it to reduce catalytic converter thefts by 57%, and saw a 100% conviction rate in contested court cases.

“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,” said Gary Higgins, DeterTech’s Director of Security & Risk. “By integrating SmartWater with CableGuard, we’re giving operators a highly effective solution to protect critical assets.”

“CableGuard was developed to address the growing issue of cable theft,” said Vern Pollard, Director of Client Relations at Formula Space. “Combining it with SmartWater takes protection to the next level.”

Sources: DeterTech, Formula Space