Motorists at risk of buying dangerous EV charging cables online

Motorists searching online marketplaces for electric car cables to charge at home risk buying dangerous products, a consumer charity warns.

An investigation by Electrical Safety First found that three EV charging cables passed through an independent testing lab risked both electric shock and overheating, possibly causing a fire.

The items from the Lectron, Yks and Flynsu brand, which were for sale on Amazon Marketplace and eBay at the end of 2021, were tested last year.

They were subsequently recalled after ESF escalated its findings to the Government’s Office for Product Safety & Standards.

Martyn Allen, technical director at ESF, said: ‘Electric vehicle owners should be aware that they may be buying a substandard electric vehicle charging cable when looking online.

‘Charging your car should never put you at risk and we’ve found devices for sale through online marketplaces that can make the daily task of charging your car a potential hazard.

“If you’re looking for a charging cable for your electric car, stick with reputable retailers you know and trust to avoid being tricked by an unreliable version that may be unsafe. If in doubt, contact the car manufacturer directly.”

The charity is now urging the government to introduce laws to force online marketplaces to take reasonable steps to ensure that products sold through their platforms are safe.

The call follows a broader ESF investigation into hundreds of electrical goods listings across five leading online marketplaces, including Amazon Marketplace, eBay, Facebook Marketplace, AliExpress and Wish.com.

It found that more than 50 lists of products for use throughout the home, from the driveway to the kitchen, were unsafe.

A portable heater available on eBay emerged as one of the most dangerous products discovered by the charity.

With 240 volts running through a heating element that is easily exposed or accessible through an unsafe cover, the heating posed “a danger to life,” according to ESF.

Bargain beauty purchases for less than £30 have also been found to pose a serious safety risk, with hair dryers and straighteners fitted with illegal plugs without a fuse, causing both fire and electric shock.

Even making a morning smoothie can end in disaster, with a kitchen blender equipped with a malfunctioning motor that began to overheat and fill with smoke within a minute of turning it on.

Cyclists were also found to be at risk from unsafe e-bike chargers available on Amazon Marketplace, despite a previous study by ESF highlighting their fire risk.

Amazon, Wish, eBay and AliExpress said the items identified in the investigation had been removed from sale.

ESF chief executive Lesley Rudd said there was a risk that the cost-of-living crisis could expose even more shoppers to dangerous goods as they seek to keep money in their wallets on the hunt for “supposed” bargains.

A recent survey by ESF found that nearly four in ten people use online marketplaces to compare prices in an effort to get the best deal.

“People buy everyday products like hair dryers and phone chargers online without knowing the dangers,” Rudd said.

‘Third party sellers are well aware of consumers’ desire to save money at the moment, so they are flooding the UK with cheap, poor quality electrical appliances via online marketplaces.

“We even see them investing in advertising to drive sales, despite the fact that their products put consumers at serious risk.

“That is why the government must act urgently to protect people by introducing legislation that forces online marketplaces to take reasonable steps to ensure that the products they sell on their platforms are safe.”