Our team strongly advise against using a 3-pin plug (granny cable) for daily EV charging. 3-pin plugs should only be used as an emergency backup, not as your regular charging method.
Below, we list some of the key reasons why.
Safety
A 3-pin plug delivers a continuous load of around 2.3kW for ten hours or more at a time. Standard domestic sockets and household wiring simply weren’t designed to handle that kind of sustained demand. Over time, this can lead to overheating at the socket, in the plug itself, or in the wiring behind the wall, a particular concern in older properties where the wiring may already be under strain.
Speed
At 2.3kW, a granny cable adds roughly 8 miles of range per hour, which means a full charge on a 60kWh battery takes more than 24 hours. A dedicated 7kW charger is 3–4 times quicker, comfortably delivering a full charge overnight.
Insurance
Many motor insurance policies, and some home insurance policies, expect regular home charging to be carried out using a professionally installed, dedicated EV charge point. Relying on a 3-pin plug for everyday charging could put your cover at risk.
Smart features
With a dedicated charger, you can schedule charging around off-peak tariff hours (potentially saving hundreds of pounds a year), monitor your energy usage, and even integrate with solar panels. None of this is possible with a granny cable.