As electric vehicle (EV) ownership rises in the UK – now exceeding 800,000 electric cars and 1.3 million plug-in hybrids – many drivers still rely on 13A domestic plugs and extension leads to power their vehicles. While convenient, this method is increasingly seen as both inefficient and potentially hazardous.
A standard 13A plug is designed for short-term use with household appliances, not continuous high-power charging. When used for long durations to charge an EV, these plugs can overheat due to sustained high-current draw, especially if the socket or wiring is old or poor quality. This raises the risk of damage or, in extreme cases, electrical fires. Factors such as degraded components, inadequate wiring, and hot ambient temperatures only increase the risk.
Charging via a 13A socket is also much slower, typically limited to 2.3 kW, compared with the 3.7-22kW of AC chargers or 50-350kW from DC rapid chargers. This slower rate can be a major drawback for daily drivers.
Moreover, limited access to proper infrastructure often leads to unsafe practices, including using unsuitable extension leads or daisy-chaining cables. For safety and efficiency, dedicated EV chargers remain the recommended long-term solution.
The benefits of a dedicated smart home charger:
Safer – Built to handle continuous high loads, weatherproof and UK regulations compliant
Smarter – automatically charging in off-peak hours saves money
Faster – Twice as rapid as
using a 3-pin socket to charge your EV
Energy management – Helps to manage the load on the electricity network