Multiple EV chargers in Delhi vandalised, equipment stolen

Electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in the national capital are increasingly being targeted by thieves, exposing not only rising equipment thefts but also deeper vulnerabilities in the city’s EV charging network, police and industry sources said. In the most recent case, unidentified suspects cut and stole two CCS2 charging guns from a charging facility near Bhairon Mandir on Tilak Marg on the night of March 18, causing an estimated loss of around Rs 1 lakh , officials said. A FIR was registered on March 19 after a complaint from a private firm’s operations engineer, and a police investigation is underway with CCTV footage providing vital leads, including vehicle details.

Authorities said the complainant also reported other thefts on the same night in Munirka, and earlier incidents in Bhogal and near IIT Gate, bringing total losses to around Rs 4.5 lakh over four months . Police noted that, although these thefts have been concentrated in the capital recently, similar patterns have been seen in other Indian cities where EV charging infrastructure has been vandalised or equipment stolen at multiple sites, prompting law enforcement action and community concerns.

Experts and EV users have long highlighted challenges with Delhi’s charging infrastructure beyond theft, including non-functional or poorly maintained stations , equipment going missing, and reliability gaps that frustrate EV owners relying on public chargers. These issues add to users’ charging anxiety and inconvenience , especially when accessing stations that are shown as active on maps but are inoperative on the ground.

Officials said the Delhi government is pushing to expand and improve the overall charging network as part of its EV policy, planning to install kerbside chargers and thousands more charging points across the city to make charging more accessible, safe and reliable.

While investigations continue into the recent thefts, authorities are reviewing security measures at charging locations and urging stakeholders to improve surveillance and physical safeguards at EV charging hubs to deter further criminal activity and protect growing investments in the capital’s EV ecosystem.