Both charging cables have been cut from a rapid electric-vehicle charger in Ilkeston town centre in a suspected theft targeting the copper they contain.
The BP Pulse charger at Pimlico Car Park has been left unusable after its CCS and CHAdeMO charging leads were removed.
The damage is believed to have occurred sometime after 13 August, when the charger was last successfully used. The matter has been reported to Derbyshire Constabulary.
Anyone with information is being asked to contact police quoting reference 336-220826.
No repair date confirmed
The BP Pulse unit is capable of providing rapid charging at up to 50kW. Its loss leaves EV drivers with very limited rapid-charging facilities in and around Ilkeston and no equivalent public charger in the town centre.
BP Pulse has not confirmed when the charger will be repaired and returned to service. The company said: “Regarding the repair timeline, please understand that incidents involving cable theft are often more complex than a standard repair.
“In addition to sourcing and installing replacement components, our teams must also assess the condition and safety of the charger to ensure it can be returned to service safely.
“Unfortunately, repeated theft incidents can complicate this process further and may require additional inspections and remedial work before the charger can be brought back online.”
At the time of writing, BP Pulse’s online charger page was still displaying the Pimlico unit as available despite the cables being missing.
A local resident said the charger was one of BP Pulse’s older models and expressed concern that it could remain out of service for a prolonged period. They said: “It would be a real shame for Ilkeston to lose its one decent EV charger.”
Growing problem across the region
The suspected Ilkeston theft follows a series of similar incidents elsewhere in the East Midlands and across the country.
Nottinghamshire Police recently warned residents about a trend involving cables being cut from chargers at domestic and commercial premises for their copper content and scrap value.
Charging cables have also recently been reported cut from BP Pulse units at a number of locations in Derby.
National charging operators have begun introducing measures including tougher cable sleeves, forensic marking, CCTV and GPS tracking in response to the growing problem.
Although the scrap value of the copper can be relatively small, the damage can leave chargers unavailable for lengthy periods and result in substantial inspection and repair costs.
Anyone with information about the Ilkeston incident can contact Derbyshire Constabulary online or by calling 101, quoting reference 336-220826. If a theft is taking place, call 999.