Shocking Surge in EV Charging Station Carjackings: How EVject Mimics Apple’s MagSafe

Could EV Charging Stations Become the New Hotspot for Carjacking? Is it Really Happening? How Can We Protect Ourselves?

When you own an electric vehicle and use rapid charging stations, you’re required to wait around 30 minutes before you can drive away, as opposed to just a few minutes for traditional gasoline vehicles. While some might use this time to grab a bite or use the restroom, many end up staying in their car until the charging completes.

Carjacking at Charging Stations

During our time testing electric vehicles, we have already experienced two incidents of malicious intent while charging at these stations.

The most common tactic is for someone to engage you in conversation during the charge, while another person stealthily takes items from your car. This is known as “theft by deception” and it’s often not covered by insurance, so caution is advised.

The second method involves either stealing the vehicle while you are inside it or taking advantage of your connection to the charging station to approach and assault you. While it’s possible to lock yourself in the car, escaping can be nearly impossible: some vehicles do not allow the charging lock to be disengaged from inside. And even if you manage to do it, you risk damaging the cable, the charging station, and the vehicle’s port—it’s always better to prevent an assault, but it’s a tough call to make.

This issue is still relatively rare, given the number of electric vehicles on the road, but it could become more common in the coming years. Unfortunately, no manufacturer has yet provided a real solution, especially since the charging cable is usually located on the side of the car, making it easy to yank out in a rush. Vehicles like the Honda E and others that charge from the front will face fewer issues.

EVject Takes Inspiration from Apple’s MagSafe

To address this issue, EVject has decided to take a cue from Apple’s MagSafe by introducing a detachable connector.

The concept is similar to that on Macs: if you pull too hard on the cable, it separates into two pieces, one remaining attached to the car and the other to the charging station. If you drive off, the two parts simply detach.

Apparently, the system is robust enough to prevent anyone from disconnecting you during a charge. The part at the station side even helps protect the plug in case of a sudden disconnection. It’s a really smart solution!

For now, only the NACS (American) standard is supported, not yet the European CCS. It’s likely that the system will need to be certified before it can be used in Europe. But the concept remains intriguing…