The charging infrastructure in Spain faces a major problem: 24% of the total network (that implies more than 17,000 charging points, or one in four) are out of service. Bureaucracy delays their deployment or maintenance. But vandalism also plays a role.
Criminals can target the copper in the charging hoses or simply vandalize them, which leads to enormous financial losses for operators and harms users. The latest case has been seen in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Álava.
Zunder has already spent one million euros due to vandalism
According to El Correo, a wave of vandalism incidents concentrated in just 48 hours in Vitoria, and the operator Zunder will pay a heavy price. The criminals have been tearing down screens, pulling out cables and frames, and damaging hoses and pedestals, and the Local Police are already investigating. For the moment they have ruled out that the damage is to steal copper from the cables.
They estimate the damages amount to €450,000, which adds to the one million euros already invested by the company due to damage to its chargers in recent months. This situation has led Zunder to meet with the Administration in an attempt to find a solution.
Reconfiguring a column can cost up to €1,200 for the operator, which includes replacing the hose and repairing the damage, while for the thief seeking copper the loot is meager.
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Nolan Kessler
I focus on performance-driven cars, emerging technologies, and the business forces shaping the automotive industry. My work aims to deliver clear, relevant insights without unnecessary noise, with a strong attention to detail and accuracy. I follow the evolution of mobility daily, with a particular interest in what defines the next generation of driving.
