Tesla Charging Bays Targeted by Copper Thieves in Ballarat

Two Tesla Supercharger sites in Ballarat, Victoria have been vandalized, leaving 28 charging bays out of commission. The incidents occurred just days after one of the sites opened. Local authorities and experts point to a rising trend of copper theft as the main culprit.

Copper thieves are targeting not only EV charging infrastructure but also telecommunications pits, construction sites, and rail corridors. According to Evie Networks' Geoff Brady, 'it's worth saying up front that this isn't really an EV story: it's a copper story.'

Professor Hussein Dia of Swinburn University noted that EV charging cable theft is becoming a significant infrastructure issue in Australia. He pointed out that the problem has been reported in multiple states, including Victoria, New South Wales, and Queensland.

The damage to each charger is estimated at between $2,000 to $5,000 AUD, with all Tesla Superchargers expected to be operational by the end of the week.

Copper theft has become a major problem in Australia due to the skyrocketing price of copper, which has increased by 37.8% over the last 12 months and is now trading at above $14,000 per tonne.