(UK) Electric vehicle drivers at risk by charging from home mains supply

[nitpicker]

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2019/may/30/electric-vehicle-drivers-at-risk-by-charging-from-home-mains-supply

Electric vehicle drivers at risk by charging from home mains supply

Rebecca Smithers

Thu 30 May 2019 06.27 BST Last modified on Thu 30 May 2019 08.47 BST

An inadequate public charging infrastructure for electric vehicles in the UK is forcing drivers to take risks by opting for highly dangerous alternatives at home, an electrical safety charity has warned.

Three-quarters of those who resort to charging from their home mains supply using a domestic extension lead even admit to risky “daisy-chaining” – using multiple extension leads plugged into one another – to reach their car, according to a survey by Electrical Safety First. It is urging the government to expand the national network of public charging points as its findings reveal the growth rate of licensed plug-in vehicles is outstripping the number of charging points available.
(snip)

In its survey of 1,500 electric vehicle owners – including both all-electric and hybrids – 74% of respondents said the shortage of public charging points near their home had led them to use domestic multi-socket extension leads, not suitable for outdoor use, to charge from the mains in their home.

This is despite almost nine out of 10 respondents admitting they were aware these should not be used outdoors. Over half of electric vehicle users who charge using an extension lead, meanwhile, said they had left cables running to their vehicle in the rain. In addition, 75% of those who charge with a domestic extension lead admit daisy-chaining to reach their vehicle, despite it being advised against in all circumstances due to the risk of electrocution and fire.
(snip)

[htuttle]

1. I bought a 50' outdoor extension cord to use with my electric lawn mower

They have those at Wickes?

[hunter]

2. Ordinary electric outlets in Britain are beasts...

... delivering 13 amps at 240 volts.

I can easily imagine fireworks when people use cheap extension cords, daisy-chained no less, to charge their cars in the rain.

Here's a bloke peeved at his dodgy extension lead:

Sorry, it made me laugh how angry he is.

It's a common problem, and much more serious at 240 volts than at 120.

Here's some details about bad cords in Britain:

https://www.aci.org.uk/news/18th-december-2018-aci-issues-new-arctic-grade-flex-warning

But don't look at me. I bought the 100 foot cord I use for my electric lawnmower and weed whacker at Harbor Freight. Who knows what evils lurk within...

[htuttle]

3. Forgot about the voltage difference

I've heard that electric tea kettles boil water faster in the UK than in the US as a result.