Can Electric Vehicles Be Stolen?

Last Updated on August 25, 2022 by

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Electric vehicles utilize cutting edge technology, which makes them stand out more than vehicles that use internal combustion engines. The security systems present in EVs have also been given a lot of praise.

But are they actually harder to steal? It’s possible for an electric car to be stolen.

However, it’s harder to steal an EV than a traditional car. This is as manufacturers of EVs enable various measures of theft prevention, in order to prevent thieves from stealing their cars.

Even when an EV does get stolen, recovering it isn’t usually a problem. EV cars are more secure due to several reasons:

• Their ignitions are more secure
• Towing an EV is also more difficult
• The doors of electric vehicles can’t be picked
• One pedal driving could be confusing for anyone not used to it

Due to these reasons, as well as many other deterrents, stealing electric cars is more difficult.

Can You Steal A Hybrid Car?

Even hybrid cars are more difficult to steal than traditional cars. But how difficult an EV or a hybrid is to steal, will depend on the features put in by the manufacturers.

Take for example the Nissan Leaf. You can’t turn the car on or even consider moving it unless the key for the Leaf is within a certain distance from the car.

Due to transponder keys as well as engine mobilizers, it’s now more difficult to steal hybrid and electric cars. A car thief should be able to bypass any ignition locks that are in place, should they want to steal the vehicle.

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How Do Electric Cars Work?

You could have a lot of questions when it comes to thieves and electric vehicles. But to understand whether an electric vehicle can be stolen or not, you should first know how it works.

Vehicles that are all-electric, also known as battery electric vehicles, use an electric motor to work. This is in place of an internal combustion engine.

A traction battery pack that is later is used to power the EV’s electric motor. This electric motor needs to be plugged into an outlet on a wall.

You should also have the right charging equipment. These are also known as EVSE, or electric vehicle supply equipment.

An electric vehicle essentially runs on electricity. This means that there is no exhaust that is emitted from the tailpipe.

Fuel components that are liquid, found in traditional cars, are absent here as well. These include the fuel pump, fuel tank as well as the fuel line.

These are the key components that you’re likely to find in an electric car:

• Battery
• Charging port
• DC/DC converter
• Electric traction motor
• Onboard charger
• Power electronics controller
• Thermal system for cooling
• Pack of traction batteries
• Electric transmission

EVs tend to gave battery packs that are made using lithium-ion batteries. These batteries supply the power needed to move the car, as well as to use features like air conditioning.

The battery of an electric car charges in the same way a cell phone charges, just in a scale that’s much larger.

What Are The Biggest Electric Car Companies?

Do you want to know whether an electric car get stolen? Depending on the make and model of the car, it’s possible to steal an EV.

This is why you should purchase an EV from established names in the industry. So who are the biggest electric car companies?

They include:

• Tesla
• BYD
• NIO
• BMW
• Volkswagen
• General Motors
• Lucid Motors
• Nissan
• Hyundai Motor Company
• Xpeng Motors
• Faraday Future
• Mercedes-Benz Group
• ChargePoint
• Volvo Cars
• Li Auto
• Fisker
• Renault
• Geely
• Proterra

There are other manufacturers of EVs as well, but these were the most renowned names in the industry.

Tesla Battery Theft – Is It Common?

When it comes to EVs being stolen, you could be wondering whether Teslas get stolen or not. Since the batteries of Teslas are valuable, are there cases where they have been stolen?

The answer is that yes, for a thief who knows what they are doing, stealing Tesla batteries could be possible. But it needs to be asserted that the thief would need to know the nitty gritties of how a Tesla works, in order to make this happen.

This is as the batteries of Tesla vehicles tend to be built into the car, such that they are difficult to remove.

How Do I Protect My EV Charging Cable From Theft?

It’s not uncommon to hear about thieves stealing EV chargers. Since your EV charger is both expensive, as well as an important component, how can you protect it?

EV chargers tend to be attractive to thieves as they can be sold for higher prices as scrap. This is as they have copper in them.

There are also thieves who may sell your charger as a second hand charger. Generally, it can be expensive to replace your EV charging cable.

Here are some things you can do to better protect your EV charger:

• Make use of a padlock: You can either use a chain that has a plastic sleeve, or use a long shackle padlock. A cord lock can also be used together with a padlock to provide extra security.
• Charging EV at home: Wherever possible, try to only charge your EV while you’re at home.
• CCTV: If you have an EV in your home, then installing a CCTV could be a great idea.
• Car Security Safe: Sometimes, charging cables can be stolen from the boots of cars. This is why you should have a secure box where you can safely store your charging cable when you aren’t using it.
• The charger shouldn’t be in the boot overnight: The boot is the first place a thief is likely to look, for your charging cable. This is why you should store your charging cable in a place that is more safe.

At the end of the day, protecting your EV charger is a lot less expensive than replacing it.

Do Electric Cars Have Catalytic Converters?

No, electric vehicles don’t have catalytic converters. This is as they don’t produce pollutants that are harmful.

They also don’t have exhaust systems that the catalytic converters can be attached to.

FAQ Relating To Can Electric Vehicles Be Stolen

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You could have questions regarding whether EVs can be stolen. These are the most frequently asked questions that people have, when it comes to electric vehicles being stolen.

Can Tesla’s Be Stolen Easily?

No, it’s not easy to steal a Tesla car. However, that doesn’t mean that it can’t be stolen at all.

The good news is that Teslas come integrated with technology that allow you to tell where the car is, using the app. So even if your Tesla were stolen, you would still be able to find out where it is and recover it.

What Are The Dangers Of Owning An Electric Car?

Owning an electric car can be a great investment. However, there are certain dangers you need to be aware of as well.

These dangers come from not taking care of your EV properly, and leaving it in a state from which it can be easily stolen. Should your EV be stolen however, you may still be able to recover it with the help of GPS.

There are also many thieves you would love to get their hands on the battery of an electric car, its charging cable, as well as other components. This is as these components can then be sold at a high price.

But should you be actively taking care of your electric vehicle, then you don’t have to worry about these dangers. Never leave the key of your electric vehicle in the car, and always keep your charging cable safely stored away when you aren’t using it.

Do Tesla Cars Get Stolen?

It’s not impossible for a Tesla car to be stolen, but they are much harder to steal when compared to traditional cars. Some Tesla models are notoriously hard to steal as well, and come with the latest security features.

When it comes to Tesla cars, you can also track where your car is using the app. This means that even if your Tesla is stolen, you should still be able to use the app to find out where it is.

Tesla components have also been targeted by thieves, as they can be resold for a higher price. This is why you need to do your best to ensure that you protect your car properly, to prevent it or any of its components from being stolen.

Can Electric Car Batteries Be Stolen?

Yes, it’s possible for the batteries of an electric car to be stolen. However, doing this can be difficult as well.

This is as there are many electric cars that have their batteries built into them. For such cars, removing and stealing the batteries is much harder.

Hard doesn’t mean impossible however. And with the right know-how, it is indeed possible for a thief to steal the batteries of your EV. To prevent this from happening, you should protect your EV by not leaving it exposed at any time.

Always carry your keys with you and ensure that the vehicle is parked in safe spaces when you’re not using it.