Plenty of electric cars come with a portable adapter that plugs neatly into a household wall socket. And that’s where the confusion starts: if it fits, it must be fine, right? For a few minutes, perhaps. In reality, you’re putting yourself and others in serious danger. Just because it fits doesn’t mean it’s fit for purpose.
Your charging cable and the car’s electronics are designed for high currents. Your home wiring isn’t; it’s meant for modest appliances. Plug an EV into a standard socket and you’re pushing the circuit to its limits — not briefly, but for hours.
That sustained load generates heat, fast. Components can soften or melt, and a fire can follow.
The tricky bit is the danger often starts out of sight — inside the socket or behind the wall. Cable insulation can begin to soften or smoulder without any obvious signs. Leave it charging unattended, especially overnight, and a hidden cable fire can go unnoticed for far too long, putting lives at risk.
Many contents and buildings policies do cover charging-related damage. But that cover may vanish if you’ve been using electrics that weren’t designed for EVs or weren’t installed by a qualified professional.
Read next
Those hexagons on the charging port and on charge points
