Copper Thieves Target EV Charging Cables, Frustrating Drivers in Seattle

As of October 2025, a growing problem with electric vehicle (EV) charging stations has been plaguing the city of Seattle. Over the past year, from July 2023 to July 2024, a staggering 100 EV charging cables have been stolen across the city, making it impossible for drivers to charge their vehicles.

The issue has "reached epidemic proportions in the last couple of years," according to Jay Donnaway, the president of the Seattle EV Association. Vandals have been severing the charging cables, likely to steal the valuable copper within. This criminal activity is undermining the city's efforts to encourage more people to ditch gas-powered cars and switch to electric vehicles.

Even when the damaged stations are repaired, the problem persists, with the cables being cut again just a few days later. "It's a vicious cycle," said EV driver Elaine Wong, who has found that most Electrify America stations in Seattle have been vandalized in recent months.

As electric vehicle sales continue to rise, with 1.6 million sold in the United States in 2023, the demand for reliable charging infrastructure is growing. While measures have been introduced to discourage the sale of EV charging cable copper wiring at scrap sites, the issue remains difficult to police, with the source of the metal tough to determine once it has been stripped of its outer casing.