Edmonton's hidden technology that tackles electric vehicle charger cable theft, leads to two detentions
In a bid to combat the growing issue of electric vehicle (EV) charging cable theft, the city of Edmonton and Tesla have each implemented cutting-edge technologies to deter thieves and protect their infrastructure.
Edmonton's new technology, deployed in a pilot program at some charging stations across the city, has already resulted in the arrest of two suspected thieves. This innovation, a first of its kind worldwide, is believed to leverage advanced technologies such as AI, IoT sensors, or smart locking mechanisms. Unlike Tesla's pressurized dye pack system, which relies on physical marking of thieves via ruptured dye, Edmonton's approach may involve real-time theft detection and prevention.
Tesla’s pressurized dye pack system, on the other hand, involves embedding dye packs inside charging cables. If a cable is forcibly removed or stolen, the dye pack ruptures and sprays a visible, often brightly colored dye on the thief, marking them and the stolen equipment as a theft deterrent.
| Aspect | Tesla’s Pressurized Dye Pack | Edmonton’s New Technology (presumed) | |-----------------------|------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------| | Theft deterrent | Physical marking of thief via ruptured dye | Possibly uses AI, smart sensors, or integrated alerts| | Visibility | Visual evidence of theft immediate on person/object | May involve real-time theft detection and prevention | | Damage to equipment | Cable permanently marked/damaged once dye is released | Likely focuses on prevention, access control | | Approach | Reactive—response after theft attempt | Proactive—prevent theft or immediate alert |
Given trends in smart city infrastructure, Edmonton’s approach may leverage real-time monitoring and automated security measures beyond physical deterrents like dye.
Tesla has faced similar issues with cable theft at its Supercharger stations, and has begun deploying pressurized dye packs in some locations as a response. The company engraves the phrase "Property of Tesla" on the copper cables to alert recycling companies not to accept them and contact Tesla.
The cost of implementing this technology is less than the cost of replacing the cables and labor for repairs. The city of Edmonton, the Electric Vehicle Association of Alberta (EVAA), and the Edmonton Police Service have collaborated on this pilot program. Interested charging station operators can contact the EVAA for information on adding this technology to their stations.
The damage from these thefts in Edmonton in 2025 has surpassed $20,000, and it is likely that millions of dollars of damage have been caused to various infrastructure across the city in the last two years, due to many incidents going unreported. The technology will be expanded to other charging stations across the city due to its success in the pilot program.
There have been 169 reports of copper wire theft in Edmonton in 2025, compared to 318 in all of 2024, demonstrating a decrease in theft incidents since the implementation of the new technology. The dye packs explode when tampered with, marking the thief and potentially their vehicle for easy identification.
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- The cost-effective implementation of Edmonton's new technology, which involves AI, IoT sensors, or smart locking mechanisms, in comparison to replacing stolen charging cables and labor costs, has proven to be successful in deterring cable theft.
- Tesla, in response to cable theft incidents at its Supercharger stations, has started deploying its pressurized dye pack system, which embeds dye packs inside charging cables to potentially mark thieves visibly upon theft.
- In a bid to further reduce cable theft in the renewable-energy industry, particularly Finance and Technology sectors, charging station operators are encouraged to collaborate with the Electric Vehicle Association of Alberta (EVAA) to learn more about deploying advanced theft-prevention technologies.
