EV Charging Vandalism Is Real — Here's the Honest Picture
A man's been charged with damaging a dozen EV charging stations. Does it change the case for a novated lease EV? We cut through the noise. Read on.
A 29-year-old has been charged with damaging nearly a dozen EV charging stations and stealing Tesla Supercharger plugs and cables, according to a report published by The Driven on 11 July 2026 (Source 1). It's the kind of story that lands in EV sceptic circles as evidence the whole thing is a mess — so let's talk about it plainly.
Vandalism and theft happen across all infrastructure. Petrol station forecourts get hit. Parking meters get smashed. That context doesn't make the damage less frustrating if you pull up to a broken charger, but it does mean this is a human problem, not an EV-specific one.
What this means for novated lease customers
If you're weighing up whether to salary-package an EV through a novated lease, one vandalism incident — or even a run of them — shouldn't be the deciding factor. The more useful questions are practical ones: How many chargers exist on your regular routes? Do you have home charging access? What does your employer's car park situation look like?
Public charging networks in Australia are still expanding, and Tesla's Supercharger network in particular has redundancy built in at most sites — multiple stalls mean a single stolen plug doesn't strand you. If your driving pattern is mostly commute-plus-weekends, a home charger handles the majority of your needs anyway. Public charging becomes a convenience, not a lifeline.
For anyone considering a novated lease on an EV, the potential tax savings under Australia's FBT exemption for eligible zero-emission vehicles remain the headline number-mover — not the state of any one charging station on any one day. Speak to a broker who'll run your actual numbers, not just talk about infrastructure headlines.
Common questions
Does charging infrastructure reliability affect whether I should novated lease an EV?
It's a factor worth thinking through honestly, but for most Australian commuters it's not a dealbreaker. Home charging covers the majority of daily use. Public networks are the backup, not the plan.
Am I covered if a charging station is out of service when I need it?
That depends on your driving habits and how many alternative chargers exist nearby. The practical fix is to plan routes with charging redundancy and not rely on a single station. Most charging apps show real-time status.
Does vandalism like this affect the FBT exemption for EVs?
No. The FBT exemption for eligible zero-emission vehicles is a tax policy matter, entirely separate from the state of public charging hardware.
Is Tesla the only EV worth novated leasing?
Definitely not. The FBT exemption applies to a range of eligible zero-emission vehicles across multiple brands. Tesla is prominent partly because their Supercharger network is large and well-known, but it's not the only option worth considering.
How do I know if an EV suits my situation before committing to a novated lease?
A straightforward needs assessment — your annual kilometres, parking situation, and access to home charging — will tell you more than any news headline. A good broker walks you through this before you sign anything.