Evolt Charging has partnered with US firm CatStrap to bring anti-theft cable protection systems to UK charging stations, according to company officials.
The Swarco-owned charging network will serve as the exclusive UK distributor for CatStrap’s cable security technology as theft from public chargers continues rising across the country.
Triple-Layer Steel Protection
CatStrap’s system wraps charging cables in three layers of steel strip that’s four times harder than stainless steel. The protection uses aircraft-grade materials designed to stop saws, cable cutters and other cutting tools.
The technology has already protected thousands of public chargers across North America with virtually 100% success in high-theft areas, according to CatStrap.
Thieves target the valuable copper inside charging cables – though each cable contains less than £100 worth of copper, replacing stolen cables costs operators thousands in new hardware, installation and lost revenue.
“Charger cable theft is affecting all UK CPOs, and every stolen cable comes with significant costs to replace and repair,” said Seamus O’Dwyer, operations performance director at Evolt Charging.
“It’s a serious issue and one that has the potential to derail the EV charging roll out and undermine investment.”
Industry Calls for Critical Infrastructure Status
O’Dwyer said the industry continues pushing for EV chargers to be recognized as critical infrastructure, which would bring stronger legal protections against theft and vandalism.
But operators can’t wait for policy changes.
“CPOs know they can’t wait for changes to be actioned and need to protect their infrastructure now,” O’Dwyer explained. “They’re implementing preventive measures and protective solutions and the introduction of CatStrap to the UK market is intended to support this.”
The CatStrap system can be fitted to any public charger and represents what O’Dwyer called “a cost-effective measure which has already been proven in the US.”
Multiple Anti-Theft Approaches
Cable protection joins other security measures rolling out across the UK charging network:
- Kempower and Osprey recently began marking cables with forensically traceable “smart dye”
- Instavolt has deployed GPS tracking technology to locate stolen cables
- Various operators have increased security patrols and surveillance
“We’re proud to partner with Evolt Charging to bring our EV Cable Protector technology to the UK,” said David Birsen, vice president of CatStrap.
The partnership comes as cable theft incidents have increased significantly across public charging networks, forcing operators to balance security costs against maintaining reliable charging access for drivers.
Evolt operates hundreds of charging points across the UK and has experienced multiple theft incidents in recent months, making cable protection a priority investment for the network.
