Two Tesla Supercharger locations in Ballarat, Victoria, were targeted by vandals, resulting in 28 inoperable charging bays. Cables were cut at the sites, including one facility that had opened only days prior. Experts attribute the damage to a surge in copper theft rather than anti-EV sentiment, noting similar incidents at construction and rail sites.
Incidents of cable theft have been reported across Victoria, New South Wales, and Queensland. Hussein Dia, a professor at Swinburn University, stated that these attacks threaten public confidence in charging infrastructure. The cost to repair each damaged charging bay is estimated between AUD 2,000 and AUD 5,000, which is approximately €1,200 to €3,000.
The rise in vandalism correlates with a 37.8 percent increase in copper prices over the last 12 months, with the metal now trading above $14,000 per tonne. Charging providers like Evie Networks are responding by installing cameras, alarms, and physical cable protection, such as mesh and shields, while collaborating with police to monitor the scrap metal trade.
Despite the damage, all affected Tesla Superchargers are scheduled to be fully operational by the end of the week. Industry experts emphasize that the most effective solution involves stricter oversight at the point of sale for scrap metal, rather than relying solely on hardware modifications at the charging stations themselves.
