Multi-continental EV charging community ChargePoint has launched two new options to fight a looming menace for electrical car homeowners utilizing public charging stations: vandalism and theft. As we speak, ChargePoint shared particulars of a brand new cut-resistant EV charging cable and a brand new alarm system to extend safety and deter theft close to the pile. You possibly can see extra within the video beneath.
Having hit a million world charging ports in 2024, ChargePoint operates as a veteran in EV infrastructure and has spent latest years increasing and implementing new applied sciences to assist simplify the general course of for its prospects.
Final summer time, the community launched a brand new “Omni Port” that mixes a number of charging plugs into one single port. It ensures EV drivers of practically any make and mannequin can cost at any ChargePoint area. Weeks later, ChargePoint launched extra expertise to deal with one other headache amongst EV drivers charging publicly – upkeep.
The corporate has since carried out AI to bolster dependability inside its charging community by figuring out points extra shortly to enhance uptime and thus ship higher charging community reliability – one thing EV drivers have been pleading to have for years.
Whereas we cowl loads of different charging networks right here on Electrek, ChargePoint is usually essentially the most attention-grabbing, as a result of its updates aren’t at all times simply community expansions or greater cost charges. As an alternative ChargePoint has used its sources to develop and implement progressive options to real issues many EV drivers face commonly.
As we speak, ChargePoint is addressing one other frustration within the EV infrastructure phase: vandalism and theft. For all you gasoline guzzlers who suppose it’s humorous to chop your native EV charger’s cable and steal it, ChargePoint has some new anti-theft measures to wreck your pathetic and callow thought of enjoyable.
ChargePoint introduces anti-theft EV chargers and cables
We’ve all seen it at the very least as soon as, whether or not it was in individual or posted by a fellow EV driver someplace on the web. You get to a public pile and the cable has been severed and worse, stolen. Discovering an open, fully-functional charger is tough sufficient if many areas, and to come back to seek out that some ignorant individual minimize by means of your nearest entry to electrical energy on your car’s battery could make your blood boil.
Not anymore… at the very least at ChargePoint charging stations.
As we speak, the corporate launched what it’s calling the trade’s first cut-resistant charging cable. ChargePoint says its workforce wielded its fifteen years of expertise in EV charging to design a cable with novel cut-resistant supplies constructed into it to discourage vandalism and theft. Whereas the brand new cable just isn’t fully cut-proof, it’s considerably tougher to vandalize and decommission whereas remaining versatile for drivers to make use of with ease.
ChargePoint shared plans to ChargePoint roll out its new cut-resistant cables to all of its industrial and fleet charging stations and plans to (selectively) license its design to different charging station producers in an “trade main effort to fight cable theft and vandalism.”
Along with the brand new EV cable, the corporate additionally launched a brand new anti-theft charger alarm system known as ChargePoint Shield. The brand new alarm system makes use of a ChargePoint charger’s current audio system, screens, and lighting parts to create alerts and deter any can be vandals.
ChargePoint Shield is able to detecting charging cable tampering in actual time and might mechanically have interaction its alarm system and might instantly push SMS and e-mail notification to prospects utilizing a given station, in addition to the homeowners of that pile. Regulation Enforcement can be alerted.
ChargePoint Shield might be activated on choose charging station fashions at no extra price by way of a cloud-based software program system improve. The corporate expects ChargePoint Shield to be obtainable starting this month. ChargePoint CEO Rick Wilmer spoke about each new anti-theft options introduced in the present day:
ChargePoint Shield and our cut-resistant cables show our relentless dedication to offering a reliable charging community. We don’t view ourselves as vicAms of vandalism, however fairly accountable for fixing it, not just for our prospects however for the trade. We’re sharing the expertise to fight vandalism in essentially the most aggressive method doable with the goal to eradicate charger reliability as a hinderance to EV adoption.
You possibly can study extra about these new anti-theft EV merchandise in addition to licensing alternatives on the ChargePoint web site and see them in motion within the video beneath.
FTC: We use revenue incomes auto affiliate hyperlinks. Extra.
