EV drivers warned over unsafe charging cables sold online that can cause dangerous issues
EV DRIVERS have been warned over buying home charging cables online as they could cause dangerous issues.
Consumer experts at WhatCar? raised urgent safety concerns after testing out three of the gadgets.
A team from the motoring advice site bought a trio of Mode 2 cables, priced between £108 and £169, online, only to discover serious faults.
Mode 2 devices are designed to allow electric car owners to charge up from a domestic three-prong socket via an adapter.
They are useful for those who are looking to move away from petrol and diesel power but are unable to install a home charger.
Testing showed that all three failed to meet both UK and EU safety standards.
The key concerns were the possibility of overheating as well as the risk of electric shocks for drivers.
Each was put through a rigorous series of five assessments, known as Residual Current Device (RCD) tests.
The RCD is a component which monitors the line for faults and switches off the electricity supply automatically if an issue is detected.
Two of the cables failed all five, while the third failed four, meaning they all presented a serious risk of electric shock.
Likewise, none of the plugs fit securely into standard sockets and all the cable were designed to run at above the 13amps to which domestic plugs are rated.
These two factors combined mean that the cables also run the risk of overheating over prolonged periods of use, even to the extent that they could cause burns.
WhatCar? also concluded that the safety labels on all three leads were not sufficiently clear, while warnings on the in-built data display were poorly worded.
Two of the leads were purchased from Amazon, while the third was bought from US-based car part site Component Authority (CA).
Amazon told WhatCar? that they would remove the leads pending an investigation, but the products appear to still be freely available and even designated as eligible for Prime delivery.
CA declined to remove the product from their site, prompting WhatCar? to lodge a complaint with Trading Standards.
As of this morning, the cable no longer appears to be on sale from CA, but the site still offers a range of other Mode 2 chargers with free express shipping guaranteed.
However, third-party retailers like Amazon and CA do not have a legal obligation to ensure the safety of the products they host.
Claire Evans, consumer editor for WhatCar? said: “Our tests show how easy it is to buy unsafe EV charging cables online.
“Our investigation highlights the importance of choosing electrical products with care and we recommend buying from reputable high street or online retailers.
“We believe stricter regulations for third-party sellers are needed.
“They should check that products meet the relevant standards up front, rather than retrospectively, following a complaint or investigation.”
A spokesperson for Amazon said: “Safety is a top priority at Amazon. We require all products offered in our store to comply with applicable laws and regulations and have developed industry-leading tools to prevent unsafe or non-compliant products from being listed in our stores.”
A CA spokesperson added: “This product has been sourced from overseas factories that meet strict quality standards.
“Our EV charging cables are designed and manufactured to handle the specified current safely.
“We ensure that the cable’s capacity is well-matched to the plug and vehicle’s requirements, preventing any risk of overheating during usage.
Until now, we have received minimal reports of any post-sales issues related to our EV charging cables.”
It comes after one driver claimed that abuse from ‘brainwashed’ EV lovers had left him fearing for his life – despite owning one himself.
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