EV Chargers Targeted: Thieves Force Upgrade to Ubiquiti
Free electric vehicle (EV) charging for employees sounded like a great perk for Lionus Media Group. It saved money and helped the planet. But that dream turned into a costly nightmare when thieves stole the charging cables. This incident highlights a growing problem: EV chargers are becoming targets for criminals.
The theft happened about a week before the video was filmed. Police offered support, but the cost of repairs fell squarely on Lionus Media Group. The damage left one employee frustrated, needing a charged car for an upcoming vacation. This situation quickly escalated from a simple cable cut to a much larger issue of charger repairability and replacement costs.
The Problem with Repair
Why not just buy new cables and fix the chargers? It turns out EV chargers are not as easy to repair as one might think. The wiring inside a Level 2 charger is actually quite simple. Power comes from a breaker to terminals, then to the charger’s electronics. These electronics communicate with the EV to start charging. A switch called a contactor then sends power through the charging gun. Thieves could cut the copper cables without getting shocked because nothing was plugged in.
Replacing the cables should be straightforward for a user. However, when Lionus Media Group contacted Grizzl-E, the manufacturer of their chargers, they were told something surprising. To get a new charging gun and cable, they would have to detach the hardwired chargers. Then, they’d need to send them in at their own expense. The replacement parts alone would cost around $200 Canadian, not including labor. This is a significant cost, especially when compared to the original price of the chargers.
It seems Grizzl-E used to offer replacement parts for end-users. Other companies still sell standard charging gun heads. These standard parts, like the J1772 charging gun, are sometimes required for local rebate programs. However, they still cost about $200. So, even doing the work themselves, users would only save on labor and shipping. Finding the specific four-core EV cable needed for these chargers was also difficult. Local electrical supply stores directed them back to the charger manufacturer.
Costly Repairs Lead to Replacement
Fixing the damaged chargers was almost half the cost of buying new ones. With government rebates often covering part of the purchase price for new equipment, it simply wasn’t financially sensible to repair the old units. Insurance also wasn’t covering the damage, leaving the company to pay entirely out of pocket. As a result, Lionus Media Group decided to replace all their existing Grizzl-E chargers, even the ones that weren’t damaged.
A Silver Lining: Ubiquiti UniFi EV Station Light
The situation, however, presented an opportunity. Lionus Media Group had initially considered Ubiquiti’s UniFi EV Station Light chargers. At the time, they weren’t eligible for a specific rebate program in British Columbia. Now, they are. Although the Ubiquiti chargers cost a bit more at $700 each compared to the $500 Grizzl-E chargers, Ubiquiti provided all the necessary replacement units. This support eased the transition.
The Ubiquiti chargers also integrate better with Lionus Media Group’s existing UniFi network. This offers several advantages over the old system. The scheduling system for the Grizzl-E chargers was problematic. To prevent weekend use, they had to set a very short charging window early in the morning because the system couldn’t be turned off completely. The new Ubiquiti chargers allow users to simply tap their access card to charge. This ensures only authorized personnel use the chargers.
Additionally, the Ubiquiti chargers have a higher stock power output. They deliver 10 amps more than the Grizzl-E chargers. This should result in about 20% faster charging. While the installation itself is simple, professional contractors were brought in to handle the electrical work. Lionus Media Group replaced six Grizzl-E chargers with seven new Ubiquiti units. They also kept an older Tesla charger that came with the building, leaving them with one extra Ubiquiti charger.
Expanding Charging Capacity
The new chargers were also installed at the studio building, addressing a significant EV charging bottleneck. Previously, people had to move their cars frequently due to limited capacity. With recent upgrades to shop equipment, including a new transformer, there is now enough power to install more chargers. An older Siemens charger at the studio will be replaced by one of the now-available Grizzl-E chargers that were removed from the main office.
The new Ubiquiti systems were easy to install. However, one of the new chargers experienced an issue upon initial setup. Thankfully, a quick fix resolved the problem.
Protecting Your Data
The video also featured a sponsor message from DeleteMe. The service helps protect personal information from data brokers. Information like names, emails, home addresses, and phone numbers are often collected and sold. This can put individuals at risk of scams like phishing or doxing. DeleteMe offers a hands-free subscription service to remove this information from data broker sites. They have been in business for over 15 years and use in-house technology to keep data safe. DeleteMe verifies data exists on broker sites before submitting removal requests, reducing unnecessary exposure.
Who Should Care?
This story is relevant to anyone involved with electric vehicles, especially those managing fleets or workplace charging. It highlights the vulnerability of charging infrastructure to theft and vandalism. Furthermore, it points to the often-overlooked costs and difficulties associated with repairing damaged EV charging equipment. Businesses considering installing EV chargers should research the repairability of different models and consider the total cost of ownership, including potential damage and replacement.
Specs & Key Features
- Grizzl-E Charger (Previous): ~$500 purchase price. Issues with scheduling software; limited functionality. Repair costs for charging gun and cable estimated at $200+ CAD plus labor.
- Ubiquiti UniFi EV Station Light (New): $700 purchase price. Integrates with UniFi network. Improved scheduling and access control via tap-in. Higher power output (10 amps more than Grizzl-E). Eligible for BC rebate program.
- Tesla Charger: Existing unit, kept in place.
- Siemens Charger (Old): Being replaced at studio location.
Availability and Pricing
The Ubiquiti UniFi EV Station Light is available for purchase. Pricing starts at $700 USD. The specific pricing for replacement parts for the Grizzl-E chargers was estimated at $200 CAD for the charging gun and cable, excluding labor.
Source: Copper Thieves Stole Our EV Charging Cables (YouTube)
