InstaVolt, the UK’s largest EV public rapid charging network, has announced that sites in Grantham previously targeted by vandals are now fully operational again, following a spate of cable-cutting incidents that left some of its charging stations unusable.
Following more than 23 instances of vandalism and copper theft from EV chargers at InstaVolt’s sites across the Midlands and Yorkshire, including four in Grantham, the industry leader has stepped up surveillance to protect its infrastructure. Measures included the introduction of CCTV, security patrols and highly advanced SmartWater Technology, which uses traceable liquid. This has been highly successful in reducing theft because only a tiny speck of liquid is required to link a criminal back to the scene of crime.
CEO Delvin Lane said: “We are delighted to say that charging sites which were previously impacted by cable thefts, are now fully usable, so customers can have complete confidence in our network, wherever they are. Guaranteeing EV drivers have charging confidence is our top priority.
“We’re incredibly proud of our 99%+ uptime across our UK network of 1,500+ rapid chargers. Offering a rapid and reliable charge is what we’re known for, and we’re here to reassure our customers that’s precisely what they can continue to expect when charging with InstaVolt.”
He added: “We’ll do what it takes to keep deterring vandalism and theft and protect our vital EV charging infrastructure, and we’re already seeing progress since deploying these new measures. The information we’ve gleaned from the SmartWater technology and tracking devices ensures our cables can be identified. This information is then passed to the police, and I’m pleased to say this collaborative working is already providing excellent intelligence.”
The EV revolution is already under way with more than one million EVs on the road and InstaVolt’s mission is to make EV charging as easy as possible, and reliability is one of its core values.
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