I've noticed a lot of people talking about the potential for having the EVSE stolen, and not charging in public because of that. Has anyone had, or know of anyone who has had, one stolen? I only got my PiP a month ago, but part of the economics of it depends on me charging in a public car park, where I can charge for free for a £10 p.a. fee (Source London - I'm in the UK). The charging point locks in the plug, I did buy a combination lock to lock in at the PiP, but small dials+ low lighting+ 58-yr-old eyes = extreme irritation. The car park is manned and covered by CCTV, and it's not a particularly bad part of town. Although the EVSE is expensive, I wouldn't have thought it would have much appeal to a thief? Over here, anyway, the market for PiPs is very small so far, can't see much success in trying to flog a dodgy EVSE in the local pub...
Where exactly in London? Spares are always useful! I think I'd be locking it if I had to charge in a public place tbh - it's not the planned theft one should be worried about, I agree. I'd be more concerned about an opportunist walking past and taking it - likely only to discard it somwhere when they realise it's of no value to them.
Here in the states we have issues with people stealing wiring from vacant homes or other places (sometimes people steal transmission lines that are live! )to sell the copper to get some quick cash. I could easily see these being stolen and then sold on e-bay or sold for scrap. I'm not sure what the inner wiring is made of but I figure it has to have some good amounts of copper wiring in it. Of course I will never know since they don't sell PIPs in my state... YET!
That's one of the features I really like about the 2013 Nissan LEAF, it gives you the ability to lock the J1772 plug until you release the switch, or until the charging is complete. Every EV should have this option. Of course, that doesn't stop them from cutting the cable, if they are only after the copper, but the EVSE is worth more than the price of copper.
Use a lock and key if the dials are too small. There is not much of a market for thieves for now. But it costs us up to $1000 to replace. The risk is too great not to lock.
I can see the point about taking it for the copper value (one of the advantages of commuting by car is that I no longer had train delays caused by a*$*hole$ stealing signalling cable for the same reason). I didn't want yet another key on my keyring, but given that this is just deterring opportunists I can get away with leaving it in the car with the swipecard (another reason for not telling Bonefish Blues where I park!). Now all I need to do is persuade the car park to remove the totally pointless metal fence next to the EV charging parking bay, which means I have a mountaineering expedition each morning to get out...
You don't even have to touch the lines. High voltage can jump a good bit of air. Nothing like the human body for working as a ground fault interrupt. That said ... yes the Leaf has a slick setup. Plugs in the front (closest to the juice) for head in parking ... which some public lots require by ordinance ... and a nice locking lid accessory: .
OEM - but the irony is ... NOT for the U.S. (except for expensive special orders from asia/UK ... in quantity ... and still it'll cost 3 figures). Where is JC whitney when you need them. .
The thing is- most people would look at the EVSE and think it's a $20 item. Thankfully they (and potential thieves) have no idea these things can cost from $500 to $1000 or more to replace!
