Charging an electric vehicle in the UK with a standard 13A plug can be dangerous and inefficient. Learn about the risks like fires and slow charging compared to proper EV chargers.
Hi - was reading this with interest and would like to comment on a few matters. I agree it is possible for sockets to overheat, but the article is alarmist and non specific to EV charging. I can't find any examples of where charging an EV from a socket has actually caused a problem. Many examples of poorly wired 13Amp (or more) heaters causing socket damage or worse, but nothing from EV charging at a steady 10 Amps which in my experience is not even causing the socket to get warm at all.
I decided against installing a "fast" charger for my Tesla Model Y. Instead, I had a professional install of an "EV rated" external socket to an RCD protected spur. In my instance I don't require PEN Fault protection, but my electrician explained, it would have been easy to add for a difference of £80 or so if it was needed. I now have a very safe, external socket I use to add as many miles as I can ever need (adds 9 miles per hour plugged in) - normally I don't even need the 6 hours on Intelligent Octopus to top up to 80% so a 7kw charger would be pointless (for me). If I am low % or need to charge to 100% for a trip I simply plug in earlier and the best bit is every time I have done this, those lovely people at Octopus give me additional hours at 7.5p to ensure I still reach my target % by the target time set in their app. And yes, my whole house is billed at the super low rate for those hours too.
Perhaps not the solution for someone who drives 100 miles a day, but for the majority of us who drive only a couple of 100 miles a week, charging via a professionally fitted 13Amp socket is a way to say £100's on the cost of a charger install AND you get more low price hours if you are on the Smart Octopus Tariff too. and no, I'm no affiliated with Octopus, but a huge fan of slow charging and if not familiar with Octopus IO, feel free to give it a try via their friendly affiliate link https://share.octopus.energy/snow-ibis-885 (we both get £50 bill credit if its used)
WORST.ADVICE EVER 🤣🤣🤣🤣
Hi - was reading this with interest and would like to comment on a few matters. I agree it is possible for sockets to overheat, but the article is alarmist and non specific to EV charging. I can't find any examples of where charging an EV from a socket has actually caused a problem. Many examples of poorly wired 13Amp (or more) heaters causing socket damage or worse, but nothing from EV charging at a steady 10 Amps which in my experience is not even causing the socket to get warm at all.
I decided against installing a "fast" charger for my Tesla Model Y. Instead, I had a professional install of an "EV rated" external socket to an RCD protected spur. In my instance I don't require PEN Fault protection, but my electrician explained, it would have been easy to add for a difference of £80 or so if it was needed. I now have a very safe, external socket I use to add as many miles as I can ever need (adds 9 miles per hour plugged in) - normally I don't even need the 6 hours on Intelligent Octopus to top up to 80% so a 7kw charger would be pointless (for me). If I am low % or need to charge to 100% for a trip I simply plug in earlier and the best bit is every time I have done this, those lovely people at Octopus give me additional hours at 7.5p to ensure I still reach my target % by the target time set in their app. And yes, my whole house is billed at the super low rate for those hours too.
Perhaps not the solution for someone who drives 100 miles a day, but for the majority of us who drive only a couple of 100 miles a week, charging via a professionally fitted 13Amp socket is a way to say £100's on the cost of a charger install AND you get more low price hours if you are on the Smart Octopus Tariff too. and no, I'm no affiliated with Octopus, but a huge fan of slow charging and if not familiar with Octopus IO, feel free to give it a try via their friendly affiliate link https://share.octopus.energy/snow-ibis-885 (we both get £50 bill credit if its used)