- Which car? tested three different aftermarket EV charging cables purchased online
- Prices range from £108 to £169 – all three have failed British and European standards
Expensive electric vehicle (EV) charging cables could pose a major safety risk to drivers, new research shows.
In a number of tests, the probe has determined that there is a risk of overheating and electric shock to users.
While all electric cars sold in showrooms today come with a charging cable, that may not be the case for someone buying a used model.
And often, electric car drivers like to leave a spare or second cable at their workplace or at a family member’s home, so they don’t have to carry their own cable in the trunk.
But Which car? has urged EV drivers to exercise caution after discovering that three devices they bought online all failed to meet British and European safety standards.
Shocking truth about aftermarket EV charging cables: Research has found that some charging products purchased online do not meet UK and EU safety standards and can overheat and cause electric shock
The automotive consumer title purchased three ‘Mode 2’ chargers – the type that allows EV owners to charge their vehicle from a three-prong household socket – from two online marketplaces.
The EVCARS Mode 2 EV Charger cost £169 and the Oasser Mode 2 Electric Vehicle Charger £130, both purchased from Amazon.
The third purchase from componentauthority.com was a portable EV charger for £108.
Each wire was tested in an electrical laboratory and assessed for compliance with existing UK and EU safety standards, including five different Residual Current Device (RCD) tests.
Two cables failed all five GFCI tests, and one cable passed only one of the assessments.
The job of the earth leakage circuit breaker is to automatically turn off the electricity if a fault is detected. If the system does not respond quickly enough or adequately, there is a serious risk of electric shock to anyone using it.
The lab also tested the plug of each cable to ensure it fit properly into the wall socket.
If the connection is not good enough, there is a serious risk of overheating, especially if the cable is left connected for hours.
None of the three plugs fit properly into the socket. Which car? research found.
The three EV charging cables tested by What Car?. The first two were purchased from Amazon for £169 and £130. The third was purchased from componentauthority.com for £108
The findings raised serious concerns about the regulation of the sale of these aftermarket charging parts
Additionally, it was noted that all three cables were designed to deliver more than 13 amps, while the plugs were only rated at 13 amps.
While this extra current is unlikely to blow a fuse, it will generate extra heat and over extended periods of time the plug may become hot enough to burn someone.
Further visual tests were carried out on each cable to assess both safety labels and resistance to tampering.
And while all three cables had data panels on their control units to inform users, the information was poorly worded and did not clearly indicate what safety regulations each device had to adhere to.
They all also had unclear labeling regarding their level of water resistance. Since these units are likely to be used outdoors, water resistance is an essential safety feature.
The findings raised serious concerns about the regulation of the sale of these aftermarket parts.
Third-party online sites are not legally required to check the safety of the products they sell in the same way as high street shops, so it can be easy for sellers to offer substandard products through them.
Have you been contacted by What Car? As for the devices, Amazon said it had removed the charging cables from sale while it conducted its own investigation into their safety.
Online retailer componentauthority.com did not offer to do the same.
In response to the shocking research results, What Car? Consumer editor Claire Evans said: ‘Our tests show how easy it is to buy unsafe EV charging cables online.
‘Our research highlights the importance of choosing electrical products carefully and we recommend purchasing from reputable stores or online retailers.
‘We believe that stricter regulations for third-party sellers are necessary.
‘They must check in advance whether products meet the relevant standards, and not afterwards, after a complaint or investigation.’
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