THE CURRENT SCENARIO
Currently, the protection of EV charging infrastructure relies mainly on video surveillance. This has, however, proven inadequate in deterring cable theft, which often occurs very quickly and leaves law enforcement with little opportunity to respond effectively. These thefts are generally motivated by the illegal sale of the copper extracted from the cables, despite the significant legal risks and damage caused to public infrastructure.
THE CHALLENGE
The aim of this challenge is to find a solution to a problem that affects the sustainability and profitability of charging infrastructure: cable and copper theft.
The cables used at charging stations, especially ultra-fast ones, contain large amounts of copper. Thieves cut the cable to extract copper, leading to severe financial losses, operational disruptions and safety issues. Existing solutions lack effective preventive measures to deter cable theft. As a result, operators face higher maintenance costs, service interruptions, and a lower return on investment (ROI) for this strategic infrastructure.
Enel X is therefore interested in exploring solutions that prevent and discourage theft attempts, in order to enhance infrastructure resilience and longevity.
To put things into context, a wave of cable thefts began in December 2024 in Italy, and in 2025 the phenomenon also spread to Spain. The Enel Security team is in contact with the authorities on the matter.
The Enel X infrastructure that has been targeted consists of DC (Direct Current) Charging Stations equipped with integrated cables. Although technical specifications vary depending on the power class, these systems follow common industry standards: the nominal voltage typically ranges from 150 V to 1000 V DC, with output currents from 70 A in compact units to 600 A in high-power models featuring actively cooled cables. Maximum power output ranges from approximately 25 kW to over 400 kW in systems supporting dynamic power distribution. Cables generally measure between 3 and 5.5 meters in length, with extended versions up to 10 meters. External cable diameters range from 24 mm to 40 mm, depending on electrical current capacity and cooling technology.
The chargers are connected to a remote backend for real-time monitoring and management, and a notification is sent to it in the case of a cable theft alarm.
The first infrastructure to be targeted was inactive, and was awaiting authorization to be activated. Subsequently, incidents involving infrastructure that was already in operation were reported: the thieves initially disconnected the system using the switch before cutting the cables. In more recent cases, however, they proceeded to cut the cables while leaving the systems in operation, thus further reducing the time needed to carry out the theft. The tools most commonly used for these thefts are hand saws, battery-powered angle grinders, and cable and wire cutters.
The goal is to identify innovative solutions – whether based on technology or new materials – that can be seamlessly integrated into existing infrastructure as retrofit options, with the aim of preventing and discouraging cable tampering.
SOLUTION REQUIREMENTS
In this Challenge, Participants are invited to submit innovative solutions to combat this phenomenon. In their application they must demonstrate how their solution effectively improves Enel X’s current situation.
Must-haves:
● Theft prevention capabilities.
● Integration with existing infrastructure, including retrofit capabilities.
● High Technology Readiness Level (TRL) > 7 – Solutions must be ready for deployment with proven effectiveness.
● Low costs compared to potential financial losses from vandalism or theft.
● Scalability for up to 6,000 charging points in Italy and Spain.
● Compliance with EU directives in terms of GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) and electrical safety.
Nice-to-haves:
● Real-time detection and automated alert law enforcement, thanks to the connection with the backend.
● Integration with charging station diagnostics to detect potential infrastructure damage before it becomes critical.
DELIVERABLES
Proposals must be submitted to the openinnovability.com platform in a single stage and must include a document with the following sections:
● Solution name/title and overview
● Solution detailed description including:
o Solution characteristics
o Technology readiness level (TRL) of the proposed solutions.
o Geographical area of application and reason why.
o Examples of technology application and reference industry, if any.
o Advantages and weaknesses of the proposed solution compared to the current way of working.
o Constraints or technological gaps for the solution’s adoption.
o Description of the most suitable use-cases according to the performance and characteristics of the proposed solution. If your solution can work within multiple environments, soil types and cable lengths, please detail each separately.
● Data, case studies, patents and journal references or any additional material that supports the proposed solution.
● A detailed and clear estimation of the final cost of the solution (single phase)
The proposals for this Challenge will be assessed by Enel X on the basis of the following criteria:
● Compliance with the Challenge’s request and the quality of the solution, including must-haves and nice-to-haves, as specified on the Open Innovability® Challenge page;
● Viability of solution implementation during a trial period in an urban environment located specifically in Italy. We can evaluate alternative testing scenarios in Spain.
● Degree of innovation;
● Solutions that are not generally known or easily accessible to experts in the sector;
● Technical and regulatory compliance;
● Replicability in different contexts and countries;
● Economic and realization feasibility.
The presence of legal headquarters in the EU will be a favorable factor in our evaluations.
