Electric Vehicle Charging with Electric Vehicle Extension Cord

Buying an electric vehicle may be one of the best car decisions a person can make. They are cheap to operate, great to drive, and mean no more trips to far-away petrol stations.

One thing to consider when buying an electric vehicle extension cord

Full electric vehicles come with a charging cable that plugs into a standard 13A socket. It is possible to charge electric vehicles this way, but it is slow and inefficient, which is why it is always recommended to buy a charging cable or charging gun. Additionally, an electric vehicle extension cord is a permanent solution that makes things even easier by installing a residential charging station in the garage or driveway. This also ensures safety and faster charging times. When out and about, electric vehicles can usually be charged at public charging stations.

One aspect to consider when using an electric vehicle extension cord is proximity. There are public charging points where cars can park nearby; this is easy. At home, vehicles can be plugged into a dedicated station. The problem is not everyone has a garage or driveway. This creates a major obstacle as the charging cable is limited in length.

For some car owners, the only solution is to use an electric vehicle extension cord connected to the nearest 13A socket. Now, electric vehicles are not like electric hand tools or lawnmowers. They consume a lot of power, and many household extension cords are simply not up to the task, and can be dangerous. Some manufacturers advise against using electric vehicle extension cords for charging electric vehicles as most wire cores are not thick enough to handle the required relatively high 10-13A current.

The safety of using an electric vehicle extension cord

If using an electric vehicle extension cord, it must be rated for at least 13A continuous current, and the cable wire core diameter must be at least 1.5 millimeters. The cable should be fully unwound and not stretched tight on the reel as the longer the cable, the larger the diameter required to maintain the current. In short, careful consideration and professional support must be sought before considering using an electric vehicle extension cord.

Any cable used must be a true "heavy-duty" cable as the core must be able to withstand high loads, and the entire cable should be tested, weatherproofed, and flexible. Owning an electric vehicle is great, with power supplies almost everywhere, and manufacturer guidelines should always be adhered to.