Tackling 450 EV cable thefts in a year: better protection now available for Italy’s charge points

With EV cable theft losses exceeding €1.4million in a year in Italy, the new V4 cut protection option for CableGuard protects charge point operators from €thousands of losses at their highest-risk sites by making cable theft prohibitive, even for organised criminals using angle-grinders and other power tools.

Canterbury, UK, 1 October 2026: CableGuard®, the EV cable theft prevention and deterrent from Formula Space, has launched a new V4 cut protection option for charge point operators (CPOs) facing the most severe cable theft attacks.

The upgrade is engineered specifically to defeat the increasing number of thieves forming part of organised crime groups, who are undertaking more brazen attacks using angle grinders and other power tools.

Cable theft has become a board-level issue for CPOs, with the cost of a stolen cable estimated to be €3.000 per theft. More than 450 electric vehicle charging stations were targeted in Italy in the year to April 2026 – the vast majority of them operating high power chargers – causing significant damage and loss.

Vern Pollard, cable theft response expert and director at Formula Space, said, "Operators tell us the problem isn’t just the theft, it’s the escalation in the severity of the attack and the extent of the damage. As thieves get more sophisticated, charge point operators need us to apply the same thinking to the theft prevention solutions we create. V4 cut protection is our direct answer to that: a new technology that not only protects cables from being taken in high-risk areas but also acts as a deterrent for the future."

The V4 cable sleeve effectively renders useless power tools used during an attack, by blunting the tools effectiveness. It changes the economics of a cable attack: turning a job that once took seconds into a slow, costly and highly conspicuous activity. The sleeve is fully retrofit, installs in 20 minutes, and has been verified by leading charger manufacturers including Nidec, Wallbox and Kempower.

Andrea Casartelli, West Hub Director, Electrip, said: “Cable theft is a problem the entire industry in Italy has to face, and the security of our charging points is a non-negotiable priority. With CableGuard, we have protected our network across the whole country, and our collaboration with Formula Space has allowed us to tackle the problem with a solution designed for the entire market. It's an investment that protects our customer experience and, more broadly, trust in electric mobility in Italy.”

V4 cut protection is part of the modular CableGuard solution, developed, engineered and manufactured by Formula Space, the experts in EV charging infrastructure and protection. CableGuard is already in use and proven as a solution across Europe among large, well, known and established charge point operators including TotalEnergies, Atlante, InstaVolt, Allego, Atlante, Electrip and Plug-inn (Renault).

CableGuard is one example of how Formula Space partners with EV charge point operators across the UK and Europe, listening to operator challenges, designing and developing solutions end-to-end to ensure it meets those needs.

Delvin Lane, CEO at InstaVolt UK, who worked with Formula Space on the development of earlier CableGuard versions, said: “As the UK’s leading ultra-rapid EV charging network, we’re always pursuing opportunities to enhance the reliability and security of our sites. Partnering with Formula Space on the development of CableGuard has allowed us to directly support a solution to the growing industry challenge of EV cable theft. I’m pleased to see the collaboration delivering a solution that we believe will make a real difference, not just for InstaVolt as a business, but for our loyal customers who rely on our network.”

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Editors notes

About CableGuard

CableGuard® is the industry-leading EV cable theft protection system, developed and engineered by Formula Space. It is the Europe's first and most widely deployed EV cable theft deterrence system, and is already installed across thousands of sites globally and adopted by operators including TotalEnergies, Atlante, InstaVolt, Allego, E.ON, RAW Charging and Sainsbury's Smart Charge.

About Formula Space

Formula Space is an end-to-end specialist in EV charging site infrastructure, helping charge point operators across the UK and Europe to design, build, maintain and secure high-performing charging sites. Its services span operator branding, bay marking, signage, solar canopies and theft deterrence, delivered as a single-source model that helps operators prioritise user experience, reliability and long-term operational efficiency.

More information: https://formula-space.com/