Canada’s ambition to achieve 90% electric vehicle (EV) adoption by 2040 is facing a growing challenge of thefts from EV charging stations nationwide. The surge in copper prices, a key component in EV charging cables, reaching a record high of approximately $20.99 per kilogram, has attracted thieves seeking to profit from the valuable metal.
Officials report that thefts from EV charging stations have cost British Columbia’s provincial power company over $1 million in the past year alone. This trend is part of a broader issue of copper thefts across the country, involving various infrastructure elements like phone equipment and power cables.
Hydro-Québec, operating the largest charging network in Quebec, has seen a significant rise in copper theft incidents related to charging station equipment and cables, doubling from nine cases in the first half of 2025 to 20 in the same period in 2026. The replacement of stolen charging cables can incur costs in the tens of thousands of dollars per unit.
Despite the relatively low intrinsic value of the copper within the cables, thieves put themselves at risk by tampering with hazardous equipment. In Edmonton, reported incidents of copper wire theft from EV charging stations totaled 14 between January and July this year, causing damages of around $41,590, up from 12 incidents during the same period in 2025. However, police suspect that many thefts go unreported.
In British Columbia, approximately 130 cables have been stolen since October 2025, resulting in replacement costs of about $1 million for B.C. Hydro. The utility company has boosted security measures at various sites, including additional cameras, alarm systems, enhanced lighting, protective cable shields, and dye-packed equipment cables.
Not only are corporations affected, but personal chargers are also targeted by thieves. A Langley resident, Greg Dent, captured CCTV footage of his EV charger being stolen, highlighting the personal impact of these thefts. The surge in copper values has made the metal a prime target for theft, prompting regulatory measures such as the Metal Dealers and Recyclers Act in British Columbia to deter illicit trading of copper.
Stephen Bieda, the national director for the Electric Vehicle Society, expresses concern over the financial and operational impacts of these thefts on EV charging networks. He emphasizes the need for enhanced protection of EV charging infrastructure and stricter oversight of copper resales to curb the rise in thefts.